We wrapped up the year with an amazing month in December. A huge amount was achieved across the veterinary team, outreach, education, and, most importantly, the construction of our new facility is gaining momentum.
We treated many medical and surgical cases and sterilized 319 animals, bringing our total for the year to a record 3,721 sterilizations! Since the beginning, we have now sterilized 14,258 animals, and 2025 will see this number increase even further!
Some of our most memorable cases from December are Ja-oo and Bucket, both of whom we brought back with us from Pa-lau in poor condition.
Bucket:
As you may remember, Rescue P.A.W.S. embarked on a two-day mass sterilization mission in the heart of Pala-U, where communities lack veterinary aid and necessary resources for even the most basic animal welfare needs. It was during this mission that we met Bucket, a tiny 8-week-old puppy with a serious eye ulcer and ringworm. Without medical intervention, we were concerned that Bucket would lose vision in his eye. Once we returned to Khao Tao, our veterinary team, including a qualified veterinary volunteer, carefully assessed the ulcer and started treatment immediately. Over the following weeks, Bucket received all the care he needed, and we are thrilled to share that he is now a thriving, bouncy puppy! He spends his days socializing with our volunteers and dogs, proving that with a little care and love, even the most fragile lives can flourish.
We treated many medical and surgical cases and sterilized 319 animals, bringing our total for the year to a record 3,721 sterilizations! Since the beginning, we have now sterilized 14,258 animals, and 2025 will see this number increase even further!
Some of our most memorable cases from December are Ja-oo and Bucket, both of whom we brought back with us from Pa-lau in poor condition.
Gyoza:
Last month, we introduced you to Gyoza, a determined little kitten with a leg deformity. This month, we placed a splint on his leg to help strengthen and straighten it. Despite his limitations, Gyoza is a typical crazy kitten, full of endless energy and mischief!
Ja-oo:
On the second day of our mission in Pala-U, a dog we later named Ja-oo made his way over to the veterinary team. Seeking food and affection, it didn’t take long for us to notice that something was wrong with one of his back legs.
A closer look revealed that he needed urgent medical attention, and we decided to bring him back to the center for a full medical workup. An X-ray of Ja-oo’s pelvis and hind limbs showed a dislocated hip and a broken leg—injuries typically caused by being hit by a vehicle. Due to the severity of his injuries, the veterinary team made the difficult decision to amputate the affected leg. At the same time, Ja-oo was also sterilized.
This sweet, loving boy has been recovering beautifully from surgery and spends his days basking in attention from anyone willing to offer it. Despite his challenges, Ja-oo is the perfect example of resilience and the incredible spirit of animals who never give up. We believe his injury had occurred months before. It was pure luck for him we saw him and were able to help and now at last he is pain free.
As we wrapped up the year, our education team has been reflecting on a busy and impactful season of teaching. 2024 saw the education team teach an incredible 13.259 students! Our Teach The Teacher Program reached over 3500 teachers and our animal welfare lessons have been taught as far as Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand. Since we started our education program in 2022 we have taught over 35,000 children!
With Christmas being a popular time for families to bring home new pets, the program focused their December lessons on the theme, A Pet is For Life, Not Just For Christmas. Through these sessions, we’ve worked to instill values of empathy, responsibility and animal care in our students, ensuring they understand the lifelong commitment that comes with having a pet.
We’re also excited to share that our outreach program has expanded in Pak Nam Pran, where we’ve started teaching in additional schools. This marks a significant step in our mission to educate and inspire more communities in our new location and we look forward to continuing these efforts in the new year.
Another highlight in December was our visit to the Myanmar temple, where we celebrated Christmas with the children. We shared a festive donation and hosted a joyful party, creating wonderful memories for all the children and volunteers!
The vet team completed a massive task of vaccinating and treating all 27 dog packs under our care. Over three days, we administered hundreds of vaccines and parasite treatments to ensure the health and safety of these animals and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
We received a desperate report about Lung Khao, a stray dog suffering from a severe wound on his head caused by a bite. By the time we found him, the infection had spread, and the wound was teeming with maggots. It was heartbreaking to see the pain he had endured, but we knew we had to act quickly to save him.
After catching him, our team began the extensive process of daily wound cleaning. Lung Khao also received vaccinations and was sterilized during his month-long recovery. Lung Khao, is a stray dog who isn’t used to humans at all. Despite his fear of us, he knew we were trying to help. It was clear that life in our care was stressful for him, and while it broke our hearts, we knew the best thing for Lung Khao was to return to the territory he knew so well. His feeder continues to update us, and we’re relieved to know that he’s thriving back in his familiar environment!
Bao (Ginger): Rushed into our care in October with severe wounds caused by jungle vines, Bao found her forever home with a local family over the Christmas period. Her infectious nature captured their hearts, and now, renamed Ginger, she is living her best life.
Linguini: This big, bouncy teenager has found a loving home where he’s thriving with agility training and social media fame.
The team at Rescue P.A.W.S. wishes all our recent adoptees luck and happiness in their new homes!
This month marks a moment we’ve dreamed about for years—a moment that will forever change the future of Rescue P.A.W.S. The construction of our forever home has officially begun!
This isn’t just a building; it’s a beacon of hope for the animals who have suffered the most. With a fully functioning veterinary hospital, 30 adoptable dog kennels, 15 hospital kennels, a dedicated cat room, and an isolation area, this sanctuary will allow us to provide life-saving care to so many more animals who need us. Right now, space restrictions force us to make heartbreaking decisions to turn animals away, knowing there are countless others waiting for help. This new facility will end that struggle, giving us the capacity to heal, protect, and transform the lives of every dog, cat, and other creature that comes through our doors.
To mark this immense milestone, we gathered for a pillar-rising ceremony, where a Buddhist monk blessed the building and the journey ahead. It was a day filled with tears, joy, and a renewed sense of purpose—a reminder of the love and hard work that has brought us to this point.
We will share every step of this journey with you. If you’d like to be part of this incredible project and help us create a future where no animal is left behind, you can support the completion of our sanctuary by clicking the button below.
Together, we are building not just a shelter but a promise—a promise that every animal deserves a second chance.
Activities/Topic | December | 2024 Total So Far |
|---|---|---|
Sterilization/Surgery/Sedation | 319 | 3721 |
Adoptions (Local & International) | 4 | 41 |
IVM Parasite Treatments (Ticks & Fleas) | 400 | 5571 |
Rabies & Combo Vaccations | 693 | 5002 |
Deworming Treatments | 300 | 2550 |
Blood Parasite Treatments | 30 | 525 |
Wound Care | 500 | 3680 |
TVT (Venereal Cancer Tumor Treatments) | 20 | 106 |
Skin Disease Treatments | 40 | 640 |
Volunteers | 26 | 266 |
Students | 0 | 39 |
Education Statistics | December | 2024 Total So Far |
|---|---|---|
Students Taught Directly | 360 | 7967 |
Students Taught Through Train-the-Trainer Program | 502 | 4056 |
Total lesson plans delivered to Thai students | 18 | 233 |
XA Teachers Trained | 21 | 346 |
Active members of our Train-the-Trainer Corps. | 5 | 63 |
Training for Visitors to Rescue P.A.W.S. | 41 | 221 |
Animal Welfare Education Events Held | 0 | 5 |
Special Training for Adults | 0 | 7 |
Animal Welfare Education Flyers Distributed | 0 | 321 |
Presentations on Animal Welfare | 2 | 24 |
Total Number of School Partnerships Formed | 1 | 15 |
Address: 65 Khao Tao Temple, Nong Kae, Hua Hin District, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand 77110
Phone: +66 (0) 84 2012 683
Email: [email protected]
