Welcome to Animal Corner! The place to learn about the work of PAWS and ways in which you can help. In every issue of the Phuket Post, we will report on local animal issues from the PAWS clinic as well as providing information on animal welfare such as :

1) Disease: Common diseases and illnesses in animals, Signs and symptoms, Treatments

2) Spaying and Neutering: The process, (some people really don’t know!), Benefits to both animals and humans, Changes in dog psychology.

3) Animal Management: Things to do and things not to do, How to stop dogs chasing your car.

4) Training: Introduction to dog training, Basic techniques, Dealing with aggressive behaviour.

5) Adoption: Adoption Programs, Foster Programs.

What do we do?

PAWS is a proactive initiative with the aims of reducing the stray animal population on Phuket, and helping educate locals in animal management. There is a large responsibility to educate the public in appropriate treatment and management of animals. Indeed no recent case highlights the urgent requirement of combining sensible animal management techniques with education than that of a machete attack which took place last week.

The PAWS vets received a phone call from a woman whose dog had just been attacked by two men and a machete. The dog, a stray who was often fed by the woman, had ventured too close to a local restaurant one time too many, and the owner and his colleague seemed determined to chop off the dogs head with their machete. The dog tried to run but received a vicious blow.

The woman managed to retrieve the dog and phoned the PAWS clinic to ask for help. The animal was brought to the clinic swiftly, and vets worked tirelessly into the night to seal the wound and try and save the animals life – such is their dedication. The dog received a number of stitches across his back to seal a wound so deep the vets could see his spine, but he is now fully healed and looking forward to going to a new home.

However horrendous this attack, it must be stressed that it could have been avoided through simple education of how to manage animals. It should also be said that whilst it is rare to see animals that have been severely punished, beaten or abused – and in truth, it is usually only these cases that make the headlines – most of the animals are simply neglected.

Why PAWS?

It is true to suggest that there are alternatives to the work of PAWS – some people talk of culling, whilst others feel relocation would be more practical. However, whilst culling is simply barbaric and unnecessary, relocation too, fails to address the problem by merely shifting it somewhere else. Through the continued presence of PAWS vets and community helpers, the stray animal population here in Phuket can be controlled in a humane, manageable, and educational manner.

Operations

PAWS operations revolve around a fixed clinic with on-site, fully qualified veterinary surgeons, equipment and a mobile clinic which can travel round the island, sterilise, and care for animals in their locality. With strong links to international organisations such as WSPA, PAWS is able to welcome a number of volunteer veterinarians from across the globe and thus benefit from further experience and new practices.

PAWS is well known locally as a fully licensed and recognised animal welfare charity, which is well equipped to deal with the stray animal populations. All vets are registered and licensed with the Phuket Town Municipal Government and with the Department of Agriculture and Livestock.

We hope you will continue to visit us here at Animal Corner and if you have any questions relating to the work of PAWS or general animal questions, please feel free to email us at: paws@phuket-animal-welfare.com or got to www.phuket-animal-welfare.com/