Care for Dogs Foundation-Helping the Dogs of Thailand
Thailand is a beautiful country and people love their dogs, but homeless canines are very evident here, and it is often heartbreaking. We met a young woman who had just spent a week volunteering at the ‘Care for Dogs Foundation’ and highly recommended it. Based in Chaing Mai, Northern Thailand, they are working to help Thailand’s homeless dogs. This centre has travel volunteer opportunities, and if you love dogs, this may be a good and ethical travel stop on your journeys. Here is an outline of their objectives:
- Reducing the overpopulation of street and temple dogs through sterilization /spaying /sterilization programs and adoptions
- Running of a rescue centre for puppies and dogs (which is used for adoptions, after-care from surgery/sterilization, or for transitional rescue for dogs that are threatened of being killed.)
- Improving the health status of homeless dogs (through vaccinations, organizing medical care in cooperation with vets)
- fighting Dog Meat Trade, homeless dogs all to often become victims of the dog meat trade caught, tortured to death only to end up as delicacy on someone table
Care for Dogs welcomes volunteers from all walks of life with a love of dogs and an eagerness to contribute to their well-being. They do not charge any volunteer fees, and therefore do not have the funds to employ a full time volunteer coordinator. They ask for and appreciate volunteers who are self-motivated and can work independently with little or no supervision once they have completed the short (approximately two hour) introduction session. As the shelter size is limited, and they have several local volunteers, they can only accept a maximum of five volunteers for their weekly introduction sessions. Reservations are made on a “first come, first serve” basis. The society asks for a minimum commitment of four days. Inductions are only held on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. To reserve a place please email the society at contact@carefordogs.org.
If you would like more information about volunteering or donating to Care for Dogs, check out links to their volunteer information below and contact them.
+66 (0)847 52 52 55 (English)
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What to Do Near the Care For Dogs Volunteer Shelter –Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai
A new life for sick and abused elephants. The Elephant Nature Park is a sanctuary where these magnificent beasts, many of them blind and crippled, can live out the rest of their days in freedom and comfort. As a visitor or volunteer at the park, you can feel a part of the helping and healing of these amazing animals.
We spent a day here learning about, feeding, bathing and just watching these beautiful creatures living and enjoying their new found lives. We were lucky enough to see a baby who had recently been born at the park into an idyllic life that his mother had not known in her youth.
We learned how a sense of family and kinship is extremely important within elephant groups. The older females help each other and cherish their friendships. And yes, according to the experts here, elephants never forget. Those who have done them harm are best to stay away.
You can spend the day at the Elephant Nature Park or you can volunteer with overnight stays in accommodations where you wake up with the sights and sounds of elephants in your front yard.
Main Office Elephant Nature Park 209/2 Sridornchai Road Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand N 18 46’53.4 E 99 00’09.8 Located close to Chedi and Chiang Mai Plaza Hotels. This office is responsible for communications and press visits.
City Office 1 Ratmakka Road, Muang district Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand This is where volunteers start from. It is located near Trapae Gate and in the old city Tel: 053 818754, 818932
Where we stayed near Care For Dogs-Chiang Mai Boutique House Hotel
We arrived there at night. We clambered out of the songthaew(open air shared taxi) after a twelve hour train ride from Bangkok, and there it was, the Chiang Mai Boutique House, an eclectic statement of a hotel that gently represents many of the elements of this northern city, and is a backstreet refuge in this city of bars, stunning Buddhist Wats(temples), markets and Thai massage parlors. The rooms are wrapped around a courtyard, pool and breakfast lounge area where you can watch the interesting world of Chaing Mai pass by your eyes while surround by northern Thai design. 
Chiang Mai Boutique House Hotel
2 Ratchapakinai Road, Phrasing, Muang, Chiangmai 50200
Teri Church seeks out interesting travel experiences around the world. Her favorite subjects to report on are ethical and earth friendly, but she’s the first to admit, she’ll give anything a try.