Paws for thought

THE NETWORK of Dog Lovers – the society for the promotion of animal welfare under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha – is launching a new photo set as part of its campaign to push pet owners into taking care of dogs and cats responsibly. Now in its fifth year, the 2015 campaign will also feature a concert later this year to raise funds to spay or neuter dogs and cats in several communities all over the country.

According to the Veterinary Practitioner Association of Thailand, one female dog and one male dog or their offspring can produce 67,000 puppies in 6 years, while one female cat and one male cat or their offspring results in more than 2 million kittens in 8 years.

A survey conducted by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration reports that there were 120,000 stray dogs in the city in 2010. That number was expected to increase 200,000 in 2014, as the BMA could spay only 27,000 dogs.

The network is aiming to spay a further 10,000 spay dogs and cats around the country. The price of the procedure is Bt300 per dog or cat, bringing the bill up to Bt3 million.

 “I’m delighted that more many people are participating in this project of the dog lovers’ network this year and are helping us in this campaign,” says actress Araya “Chompoo” A Hargate, one of the two ambassadors for this project alongside Thongchai “Bird” McIntyre. 

“I would like to tell everybody who feeds a dog or cat to please take care of them as well. We should all be more responsible. Don’t leave dogs or cats at a temple so they become a social problem. This year, we will be going to several places around the country to spay 10,000 dogs and cats in an attempt to reduce the number of strays.”

Araya appears in the photo set with other actors, actresses and artists, among them Praiya “Poo” Soandokmai, Manatsanun “Donut” Phanlerdwongsakul, Shahkrit and Virithipa “Woonsen” Yamnam, Siwat “Cee” Chotchaicharin and Amy Klinpratoom, Tata Young and her husband, Wannarot “View” Sonthichai, Taya Rogers, Uttsada Panichkul, Pitchanart “May” Sakakorn, Metinee “Lukked” Kingpayom, Toon Hiranyasap, Methanee “Nino” Buranasiri, Viyada Komarakul Na Nakorn, Tik Shiro, Wichayanee “Gam The Star” Pearklin, Korakot “Aon The Star” Tunkaew, Teera “Tae The Star” Janyasirigoon, Guntee “CD The Star' Pitithan, WhatChaRaWalee, Mum Laconic, and popular footballer Teerathep “Leesaw” Winothai,

The images were shot at the Museum of Contemporary Art by well-known celebrity photographer Kanachai “Kit” Bencharongkul.

T-shirts with an image of Tofu, Princess Bajrakitiyabha’s favourite Bang Kaew, designed by well-known cartoonist Chai Ratchawat. T-shirt are also on sale for Bt350. 

A concert is being organised at Aksra Theatre on October 17 at 7pm.

 

Little Woofers

 

- Find out more by calling the Office of Affairs under the royal initiative of HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha at (02) 141 4937 or (02) 141 5097 or visit Facebook/street4legs.