It eventually dawned on me that I have some sort of inbuilt radar for spotting dogs in need of help. Last week I was driving home from town along the dark country lane that leads to my village and even my car lights were enough to show me one of the saddest looking dogs I’ve seen in my neighbourhood. The poor small thing was covered in sores, with blood trickling down her body. I made a mental note to go back the next day on my motorbike and find the dog to see what I could do to help.

The next morning I returned to the spot where I’d seen the dog and a man advised me to go in the small soi nearby. I did this, and asked at a couple of houses if anyone knew this dog. One old lady seemed to think that it lived in a compound where there was a fairly large bungalow and a row of the very small, cheap rooms that are rented to poor Thais.

I had taken a dish of food with a small dose of Ivomectin mixed in it – this is always my emergency treatment for dogs with bad skin conditions and it also helps against ticks and fleas. I made my usual dog friendly noises and the small dog appeared from behind the large bungalow, immediately delighted to see food. She was so thin, with just a few white hairs on her body, which was pretty much covered in oozing sores.

As she was gobbling down the dish of food and a generous portion of dried dog food that I added, I called out to see if anyone was around. A young woman eventually appeared in the doorway of the large bungalow and just stared at me very angrily. I got a strong impression that she was a few grains short of a plate of rice and after a few attempts to talk to her in Thai about the dog, I gave up. The next day I returned and a young man came out. He flatly denied any responsibility for the dog and also said that nobody gave it any food there. I felt like asking him why it stayed if that was true, but couldn’t be bothered as my attention was now focused on what could be done with the dog.

By my third visit, the little dog allowed me to put some antiseptic powder on her wounds. She was clearly unused to receiving any kind attention from humans. The smell from her sores was not pleasant and my experience of many Thai people’s attitudes towards dogs with medical problems – and particularly ugly skin problems – is that they prefer not be associated with these suffering animals. It means accepting responsibility and if the animal in question is in bad condition, this reflects negatively on the person concerned. My sentiments, exactly.

Although Care for Dogs shelter is full – as always – Karin very kindly agreed that Petal can go there to be treated and sterilized. After this has been done, she will have to go back to the uncaring people at the place where I found her. I sincerely hope that someone will adopt her before that happens and I’m sure that she would make a lovely, permanently grateful pet for the kind person who wants to take her home