Here we present a report about background and results of the Down by the River – fund raising event of our partnership project “Hant to Paw”.

Congratulations to all involved, they really make a difference in the life of many dogs in need.

On Saturday, March 20, 2010 the CAS participants of the student-driven Hand to Paw Temple Outreach Programme presented “Down by the River” featuring Ana Gracey and her band. The Prem students have worked for months preparing for this event hoping to raise funds to support the temple dogs in the neighbouring community of Prem Tinsulanonda International School in Mae Rim. The fund-raiser was held at the historic Gallery Restaurant on the Ping River. K. Surachai and his staff were perfect hosts throughout the evening by being well prepared for a sold out crowd.

The Hand to Paw programme was the vision of two staff members at Prem International School who had a love of dogs and wanted to develop a programme that would involve the students at the school while at the same time promoting awareness in the local villages to the plight of the dogs living in their midst. It was designed to provide care for these homeless dogs who fought each day to survive because of lack of food, proper medical care and abuse that included beating and poisoning. Hand to Paw has since become a group of animal-loving students in grades 6-12 who work together to promote a sustainable, healthy dog population at the temples in the surrounding community.

The vision had several goals:

• to provide a “hands-on” education -based venue for interested animal-loving students to develop leadership skills while learning to care for thee ongoing needs of the village temple dogs.

• to raise community awareness regarding the need to promote basic health care particularly sterilization and immunization while at the same time advocating against animal cruelty by modeling a caring compassionate approach

• to work in partnership with the monks at the local temples as well as the Care for Dogs Foundation. Care for Dogs has provided support, encouragement and expertise throughout the year.

Presently there are over 30 individuals giving their time both as co-curricular and CAS [ Community Action Service ] students to provide for the daily and ongoing physical needs of the dogs in Wat Nongplamon, Mae Ann and Huay Sai. Every week the condition of the dogs is assessed. The dogs have all been named by the students and careful records are kept for each of them regarding scheduling for vaccinations, heartworm medication and bathing. As the programme has grown, community awareness sessions have been held. Female dogs from both the local temples and the village community have been sterilized and the monks in each of the three temples have been provided with emergency 24 hour access information through our partner Care for Dogs in the event of medical emergencies.

It was apparent to the students that to fund such an operation they would have to do more than the occasional bake sale at school. The student group provides at least 2 bags of dog food a month to each of the three temples. They also fund the purchase of medication, vaccines and bathing/spraying supplies. When money is available female dogs from the temples are sterilized. The programme has succeeded in having 18 dogs sterilized this year. Hand to Paw has become a worthwhile but costly venture. After much discussion and brainstorming it was decided to hold a fund-raiser that included parents and friends.

“ Down by the River” became that fund-raiser. With the help and generosity of so many community-minded individuals, as well as the students of Hand to Paw, 52,000 baht was raised to support our dogs.

They are not “just dogs” They are our dogs . Every child involved with the programme loves them , cares for them and hurts when one of them is injured, sick or abused. We want to prevent this from happening.

Sandra Clyburn

Hand to Paw

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