In the early days of Care for Dogs the little one-room house of our dog caretaker Khun Chaay was an “All in one” solution – living room, food preparation area, treatment room, and a small table in a dark area next to the boiling cooking pots was the “office” (Sarah, Grib + Ally, do you remember?).

With our growing activities this set-up was just not livable any more. Last year we therefore decided to set up our own vet facilities with an operation- and treatment room including an office, a storage room, a shop window and an outside grooming station.

At that time we were not sure if we would be able to raise the funds for this investment, and we were discussing in our core team if we should take this risk. But we had the trust (or untamed optimism?) that with the help of friends and supporters we could make this milestone possible. We are very grateful that our supporters were very supportive and helped generously – a heart-felt Thank you again to everybody who had helped to make this vision come true!

After weeks of construction Khun Pracha and his team had set up the new building that was attached to the dog caretakers’ house (see photos http://www.carefordogs.org/sterilisations-at-the-shelter-amazing-achievement). We were all amazed how clever he had used the limited space of our former enclosure “E1” to set up all the facilities in a very economic and practical way. After the new building had been finished, we were eagerly trying to find a vet.

However, this turned out to be not as easy as previously thought. But the waiting was worth it and finally we found what we had been looking for! We are very happy that Dr. Pan has started last June working with us on a 3 days per week part time basis from Mondays to Wednesdays. Even before her official start she kindly offered to volunteer for us, brought in her vet friends, and they sterilized and operated the first dogs in our new operation room.

Dr. Pan has studied Veterinary Medicine in Chiang Mai and received her Bachelor Degree in 2007. She has worked at a clinic in Rayong before returning to Chiang Mai in January 2009 and setting up Meechoke Veterinary Clinic (near Rimping Mee Chook) which includes a pet shop. Dr. Pan will continue to run her clinic and pet shop with the help of her employee while working part time for us.

With Dr. Pan we will be able to reduce our veterinary expenses for the many rescue cases we have (in average 40 – 50 dogs at the shelter taken in for medical treatment).
We can assess and treat dogs and puppies right on the spot and will need to do less vet runs which means less stress for the dogs and more capacity for other tasks of our team.

After the first 3 weeks with Dr. Pan we realize even more what great asset it is to have a vet on site! We had emergencies with Jaqapat going into shock and unconsciousness or a very young puppy going downhill and both might not have survived without the quick, thorough and competent care of Dr. Pan.

Our shelter management is having in average a 2 pages list of dogs to be checked and they must hate me whenever he hears “Could you also add …. on your list?” Time is just flying while Dr. Pan and our team are busy from morning to evening to follow up with all our new rescue cases. 1 1/2 days of her time are reserved for sterilizations and operations and the other 1 1/2 day for medical checks and treatments, blood checks and follow ups.

The conditions Dr. Pan has treated so far vary from tumors, kidney and liver problems, eye- and ear infections, wounds, skin problems, pneumonia, blood parasites upto coughs and colds to name a few. Dr. Pan even doesn’t hesitate to come up all the long way from Mae Joe to Hang Dong on her days off to check on special cases of dogs in need.Thank you, Dr. Pan, for joining us – we are delighted that you are enriching our team and that you are truly dedicated to make a difference to the live and health of many homeless dogs and cats in need!