Description of our work
Rescue P.A.W.S. is a not-for-profit animal welfare organization, located in Khao Tao, Hua Hin, Thailand. We are a small team of passionate animal welfare advocates. Our team consist of a veterinarian and veterinary assistant, Outreach team (2 people), husbandry assistant, operations coordinator and me as the practice manager.
Rescue P.A.W.S. mission is to improve the lives of dogs and cats in Hua Hin region through sterilizations, vaccinations, and preventative health care.
Our work in the community consists of:
Sterilizing and vaccinating (combo and rabies) stray dogs and cats. Providing parasite treatment to stray animals
Providing medical care to ill and injured stray animals Feeding over 25 packs of dogs in our region
Providing free sterilizations to community members animals Providing free rabies vaccine to community members animals
Providing free medical care to community members ill or injured animals Outreach team promotes sterilizations and vaccinations within the community and facilitate sterilization by bringing animals in for surgery and returning them to owners.
Provide food to local rescuers and community members who feed stray dogs, but due to depression caused by Covid-19 pandemic are financially unable to do so.
Respond to reports made by the public about ill, injured or not sterilized animals.
Rescue, rehabilitate and adopt animals that cannot be returned to the streets.
Educate the community about responsible pet ownership
Impact in numbers
- Since 2014 to date, we have sterilized 3010 animals.
- Our target for 2021 is to sterilize 1000 animals by the end of the year.
- Year to date we have sterilized 642 animals.
- Since 2014 we have provided over 7000 rabies and combo vaccinations.
- Provided medical treatment for illness or injury to over 18,000 animals
- Delivered 5626 parasite treatments.
Impact (description)
The last human death from Rabies in Hua Hin was in 2018. This has been made possible through mass vaccination of animals, education, and accessibility to PEP. Rescue Paws plays an important role in education. This is done through various different channels; educating the community, school educational visits, student visits to Rescue P.A.W.S. and through our day trip program.
We have witnessed a big shift in people’s attitudes towards free roaming or stray dogs since working closely with the community. Education on how to humanely reduce the number of stray dogs over time and how to minimize the risk they can cause has created stronger bond with the community.
We have a close relationship with the religious leaders in the community and work closely with the local DLD.
Due to the effects of COVID we have witnessed a huge demand for our services. We want to be proactive in preventing an animal welfare and public health issue, due to people being financially unable to sterilize and vaccinate their animals.
Share a personal experience
What personally inspired me is the One Health Concept and how human and animal health is interlinked and you can't fix one problem without fixing the other.
Since I joined Rescue P.A.W.S this has been a big driver in our work. We are not only helping animals, but creating healthier and safer communities for people to live in.
By working closely with the community Rescue P.A.W.S has become a hub for helping animals and promoting responsible pet ownership. Working together has enabled us to reach more animals, have a wider impact for animal welfare and creating a safer community.
Partners
- We share resources and collaborate with the local Department of Livestock Development (DLD).
- We also work with local smaller rescue organizations, as by working together we can achieve more.
- We also work closely with the local Buddhist monks and provide care for temple animals. This has a wider impact on the community as due to cultural and religious believes many Thai people do not want to intervene in animals’ ability to reproduce. As religious leaders are seen promoting the practice it is becoming more acceptable with the rest of the population.
*All information supplied by nominee*
