It was just last January when Anke joined CfD volunteering for several days when visiting Chiang Mai and even in this short timespan she was a real valuable help (look at this earlier post ).

This is an English translation of what she wrote to us when she arrived back home in Eutin,Germany:

Dear Karin,

It’s almost a week now, since arriving back home but I’m still not feeling really at home.

Unfortunately I had a little accident just a day before my departure. In my son’s house I slipped falling down the stairs, so had to go the hospital. Well, my tail bone has a minor fracture, a real pain in the bum! And the long flight back home wasn’t comfortable, but sooner or later everything will be healed, it will just take a little time.

Now my own cats stay by my side all the time, obviously they must have missed me.

I have to get used to the cold weather again, and pullover and fleece jacket are a great help.

Every day I think of you and the shelter and now I try to write a little report about my time over there:

Just a year ago I saw the Care for Dogs shelter for the first time and immediately I knew “that’s the place where you want to come back and join this team in their work!” And after all it really happened. This year January I could manage it, working as a volunteer at the shelter, that means comforting dogs, bath them, take them on a walk and do the little things I could giving a helping hand. I was surprised and delighted to see so many dogs living in packs in such a harmonic way.

The team of Care for Dogs does a remarkable job. For example providing all these dogs in the shelter and additional temple dogs and managing the substantial task of shelter organisation. The accommodation of all the animals – healthy or sick – is optimal and well planed. And all this financed purely by donations. I take my hat off (if I had one) to all the staff of Care for Dogs. Just amazing!

At my first day at the shelter I was greeted by what felt to be 1000 dogs in a stormy welcome ceremony. Within minutes the colour of my jeans, vest and t-shirt hat taken the colour of the sand around us, but who cares? The instant, when I sat down at one of the benches in one of the enclosures, I wished I got 10 more hands, arms and legs. “Covered” by dogs, I could hardly please them all. This was not only comforting moments for these 4 legged fellows but for my soul, too. Feeling all the “love” around me! I was allowed to take a few of them out in the woods near by. I started with 2 on the leash, coming back with 4, as Lissi and her friend Judy were experts in breaking out, insisted to join us and joyfully take the walk along with us.

On my third day, Karin took me to 2 temple grounds in Mae Joe where Care for Dog looks after the dogs. On arriving dogs just came up to welcome us. The whole day we drove around the rambling area to supply the dogs as well as cats with food and medicine. I was impressed by Karin’s commitment. We found a little skinny and injured puppy (I called her “Floh” or “Flea” in English) and we took her away with us to the vet and afterwards took her into the quarantine room at the shelter. I’m convinced Flea will make it and soon join the other puppies in their play.The “highlight” of the day arrived when I prepared the 18 puppies at the shelter for the night ahead. Each one had to put on a a colorful sweater because of the quite cool nights (winter time in Thailand). Looking so cute in their outfits!

Though I stayed 7 hours a day in the shelter, time just flew past. There’s no day I’m not thinking about all the dogs and with all my heart I wish all of them will find their loving family.

I want to thank all of you, allowing me for a week to be part of this team and for sure, I would jump at the chance of joining you again when I come back to Chiang Mai again.

Promise !!!