Dogs have always been a part of my family right from the day I was born. During my many years of traveling abroad extensively I felt a huge void that was missing and yearned for the day I settled and dogs would be part of my life again. Of course my family back home in Australia has always included dogs & I look forward to seeing them every time I return home to visit.

My earliest childhood dog memory that has stayed in my mind throughout life is from when I was 4 yrs old. During a daily outing with my family on a visit to our family friend’s home, I was out playing in the yard with the other kids while the adults socialised inside.

Our friend’s had a lovely big Alsatian dog that was enjoying his sleep also in the yard. Without any fear whatsoever I decided to run up behind him & give him a great big hug. Well this scared the life out of him & his natural reaction, unfortunately, was to protect himself in which my face received the attack. I was rushed to hospital & required many stitches on my face. This however is not the memory that stayed with me; it is that the lovely Alsatian dog was put to sleep permanently after that incident. I was most upset for him and have never forgotten it. That incident did not change my love for dogs at all; if anything it made me love them more.

My concern was not for myself at that time it was for my doggie friend and I am so happy now to be able to help lots of dog friends here in Chiang Mai, my home since early 2003. Public awareness of the sad and at times sickening situations that surround these wonderful creatures is lacking here tremendously. It’s truly shocking to see people turn a blind eye to the abuse and ill treatment of these animals. With no animal cruelty laws in place here many dogs and other animals have had to endure suffering that has to be seen to be believed and a lot of these dogs will never recover from their emotional trauma or injuries.

To be able to save as many dogs as possible from these situations and give them a better life full of the love, care and compassion that they deserve fills me with a strong feeling of contentment. To see puppies with little hope go from starvation & weakness to full of life and dogs that shivered in fear at any sudden movement suddenly so affectionate after we rescue them or distemper cases with little or no hope make a full recovery, makes all our hard work at Care for Dogs so worthwhile.

I love being a volunteer; this is something I have felt drawn to for a long time. To be able to give back to society and especially to a cause that’s crying out to be noticed is so rewarding and makes my life feel complete.

My husband, Nok (also a volunteer with Care for Dogs) & I have a wonderful dog family, all adopted from Care for Dogs and the streets of Chiang Mai.

They were dumped and homeless and we’re so happy to have given them a warm and loving home. They in return bring us so much happiness.

One of our first adoptions is our lovely Golden Retriever, Jasper (formerly known as Sunshine), and you can read Jasper’s story ‘Sunshine’s Tale’ here…