I stopped by one of the temples, where we’d started spaying dogs, on my way to one of the Karen Hilltribes for the weekend, to spend time with friends and their families.

I checked on the dogs that had been spayed two weeks prior and removed the stitches. After rubbing and patting the dogs all too eager for attention, I stepped back into the car.

As I drove away, a monk ran after the car holding a puppy. My Thai was pretty minimal at the time so, when he attempted to explain what was wrong, I couldn’t understand.

I was still really new to dog rescue protocol and thought, naively, that he might just be malnourished. I took the pup in my lap and told the monk I would take care of him. As the hours passed, the pup got weaker and weaker. I tried to feed it but it was disinterested in even the yummiest treats. By the time I got to the village, the puppy was unable to stand on its own and it was badly dehydrated. I force fed it some water and found a cool floor for the dog to rest on. I rubbed some honey on its gums to get some calories into its bloodstream.

It lay on the floor and inhaled deep breaths. The hilltribe children, curious, spent hours by its side, taking turns petting him and asking questions about his health. We gave it water, put honey on its gums, and kept it cool. Within two days, the pup didn’t have enough energy to open its eyes.

I was planning on taking the bus early back to go see a vet but when I woke up the next day and walked by the pup, it wagged its tail and opened its eyes - a feat it had not yet done. It took several days before the puppy walked and ate again but finally, it happened. The vet suspected the puppy had survived distemper. The kids named him “Lion” due to his strong spirit and tough nature. After a full recovery, Lion was adopted by a wonderful family with kids and last I’d heard, he was prancing around in his den fully content and ever-resilient.