Dog-whisperers not necessary

At the time of writing, flood waters are slowing moving towards the inner city, but the rescue of dogs and cats in areas flooded weeks ago continues – and not only rescuing.
 Once the animals are taken to safe and dry areas, they still need to be cared for, of course. Feeding, treating medically, bathing, cage cleaning – all these must be provided for animals who don’t understand why they’ve been removed from the homes they knew.
 Tharinee “Carrie” Wipuchanin of the rescue group Pic-A-Pet4Home says that many in her rescue network have located areas where dogs and cats are relatively safe. They just need food, medicines and old, clean towelling.
 “You know, we could use people on jetskis who would carry the petfood over the water to these areas,” she says.
 She’d rather have volunteers experienced in animal rescue, but gradually, she’s coming to realise that while experienced volunteers are difficult to find, most people have skills that will help in this time of crisis.
 Just the other day, I received an e-mail from a friend in Pattaya. She loves animals, mainly her own dogs, and although she doesn’t much like cats, she would help out if she could.
 She has no experience in rescuing animals, however, especially frightened and sick ones. She’s sent money to rescuer-friends, but she doesn’t have much of anything else to send them, not even one jetski for Carrie.
 She does, however, have a garden at her house in Pattaya.
 Last month, a professor living in Bang Bua Thong watched in horror as the flood waters rose alarmingly fast. She had already rescued over 100 in the area, but now even her home would be no sanctuary.
 What could she do?
 Through the grapevine, she heard about my friend’s house in Pattaya. Friends approached my friend. Could she provide a place in her garden? For 100 dogs? That very night?
 In a case like this, you can’t wait to think about what you’re going to do. Decisions must be made immediately.
 Not only did she say yes, she immediately organised a carpenter to build a secure fence. At the same time, she arranged to rent four tents from a local wat.
 It took five hours to prepare the garden. The dogs arrived around midnight. After another two hours, they were settled into their new home.
 My friend would never claim to be a “real” animal rescuer. The thought of pushing through rushing water one or two metres deep to grab a dog that might bite you – she just couldn’t do it.
 Somehow, though, she’s found a way to help the people braver than she is and some animals in great need.
 As she has just found out, you don’t have to be a dog-whisperer to help in this great time of need.