My name is Michael Würth and I’m volunteering for Care for Dogs for quite a while, usually I try to help from the distance out of Germany doing some support around the web site.
But now after more than two years since my last stay it was real time to refresh my hands on experience at the Care for Dogs shelter.

So from March to April I staid for some weeks in Chiang Mai trying to come to the shelter as often as possible.
Though many things changed some didn’t change at all.

There were big changes in infrastructure and facilities and organisation and all to the better. A new quarantine area, a visitor area, rooms for the vet making possible to perform operation in the shelter, new enclosures, additional staff instead of two there are three dog care takers and a thai assistant Khun Jum.

But in other aspects it was like I never was away.
Again my volunteer day started with the honourable task of poo collecting followed by doing walks with the dogs, cleaning water bowls, catching dogs for the next medical treatment, give some spot on against the ticks or a little shower to doggies in need and my favourite “socialising” with the dogs (in other words, cuddling as much as I can) and doing what ever else I could do in my limited time.

Some faces were new to me but the dedication and commitment of the volunteers and the beautiful fine character of the dogs around me seems to stay the same.

Though there were some sad moments, too, the joyful experience to be around and working together with those people and the feeling you can brighten the day for at least some dogs counts much much more.
The real hard moment came when I had to leave but I promise to come back.

I only can recommend to all people with a heart for dogs and some time in Chiang Mai to join the team of Care for Dog. It’s a real worthwhile experience and if you once made it you won’t want to miss.

Many thanks to Karin, Ally, Khun Jum, Irene and all the others around Care for Dogs, making me feeling welcome and set up an environment making it possible to help those creatures I love.

Michael