The Life of a Temple Dog in Thailand
Street dogs in Thailand are a big issue. Often know as soi dogs, they are owner-less and usually find a particular area in a neighborhood to make their home. They then rely on the local residents to feed them, and (hopefully) take care of them. Estimates place the soi dog population at somewhere around 1 million animals. The large numbers are due in some part to the Buddhist belief of not neutering and not putting to sleep any animals...and so we have a problem.
Sadly, for many of these dogs its a difficult and unforgiving life, and it is not uncommon to see them racked with mange or afflicted with other illness. If nobody is prepared to spend the money to take them to a Vet, they often suffer from these dehabilitating diseases.
The Temple Dog
In this picture you see a native Thai dog. Many unwanted dogs are dumped at the local temple, in the knowledge that Buddhism respects life and somebody will take care of them, usually one of the resident monks. And so it has come to be, that now temple dogs are quite common. As you can see from the dog in my picture, although without an owner, he has been cared for, fed and bathed, and is a fine looking specimen. The monks often enjoy the company that the dogs provide in what can otherwise be a lonely existence.
I took this photo at the ancient capital of Ayuthaya, and I like the way that the dog, obviously care for, is almost as it soulful stares over the Buddha statue . I find myself wondering if he realizes just how lucky he is to be living his life as a temple dog and not on the streets.
An abandoned dog lays on the street in Bangkok
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A lot of my monk and no friends have cats too, I have a home remedy for mangy dogs I shared with one of my nun friends, their dog was not doing well on a veggie diet.
That's a good looking dog. Looks a bit like an Australian dingo.