What I love about dogs is their sincerity; their genuine attitude towards life. They are what they are at their purest, with their good qualities and their flaws. You can really build an amazing companionship with a dog. When giving even just a little to these wonderful beings, you will receive back what you give ten times over!

I’ve been working with shelter animals for over a year now, and have built many rewarding relationships through caring, petting and socializing with them. At home I have three dogs as well, in every size and with varying personalities. One of them was adopted from a shelter in Spain. Our older lady, a JRT (Jack Russell Terrier) has been with us since she was a puppy. The two of them flew with us from Finland to Singapore and now to Thailand. Our Rottweiler female is from a village in Khon Kaen, in the Northeast of Thailand. Her transformation from village life, where she used to run for cover every time somebody raised their voice or lifted up a stick, into the super affectionate, playful dog she is now, was just beautiful to witness.

An increasing number of owner dogs are getting the love and care they deserve. On the other side there are many homeless dogs here, and even dogs that have an owner, are sometimes afraid of humans or treated very badly. They are not considered family members and often are neglected. While they may get food quite regularly, if they get sick, they are not taken to the vet, and they are not treated with love and care. Education of children, the future dog owners, to treat animals with kindness and respect, is very important to me. I love children, and I truly believe that they can make a difference to the future of dogs and cats here, as long as they are taught about the needs of their pets and of the benefits and joys of having a pet.

In my daily work at Care for Dogs shelter, I have experienced every emotion that is possible, from being very sad from a dog passing away after a sickness to the joy it brings when dogs recover from their ordeals. It’s rewarding to see a shy, abused dog slowly build its trust in humans, watching as its true personality start to blossom after recovering. Also, it is wonderful for me to accompany a puppy or a dog to go be with their new, caring family.

Sometimes we have very difficult situations to deal with and difficult decisions to make. Abandonment and abuse of a dog make me especially angry and very sad. That people are not willing to make any efforts to get the most out of companionship with their pets, only wanting to sweep problems under the rug is terrible, but it’s all worthwhile when you help the animals and meet genuine animal lovers. At the end of the day that’s what it’s all about.

Hanna Oesch-Kuisma
Shelter and Education coordinator