PUP Sterilization Programme Status 12-12

Soi Dog Foundation PUP Programme Report

The PUP programme (Prevent Unwanted Puppies) is a systematic dog sterilization program on the island of Phuket (Thailand). The PUP program commenced in early 2012 with substantial funding provided by Dogs Trust International. PUP aims to see the stray population under control on Phuket within 2 years allowing Soi Dog to continue further expansions throughout Thailand and in particular expansion of existing operations in Bangkok where little has been done in the past to address the issue of an estimated 300,000+ homeless dogs and cats. In December, Soi Dog sterilized 726 dogs on Phuket and 1040 animals altogether.

Soi Dog has now completed the PUP program in Thalang district, one of Phuket�s three districts, which occupies the northern half of the island. The new year marks a shift to the southern part of Phuket which has higher populations of humans and dogs, beginning with the most densely populated areas from which we receive many requests for sterilizations and treatment � Vichit and Mueang Or Bor Tors. As Vichit is one of Phuket�s largest Or Bor Tors, Soi Dog has allocated three months to sterilize its dogs.

Vichit officials initially insisted that the dogs we sterilize should go to the government dog pound on Phuket. Dogs who enter the pound generally stay there for life. This opposes the basis of street dog sterilization programs because dogs who are sterilized and returned to their own territories will continue to defend those territories and prevent other dogs from moving in. If a dog is removed, it leaves a niche for another dog (who may not be sterilized and may carry diseases) to migrate into the area. Furthermore, conditions at the government pound are not humane and since the pound has no structured programs for adoption or release of the animals, it does not provide a sustainable solution to the street dog issue. Soi Dog took a firm stance on this issue and explained how a widespread sterilization program works, and the officials agreed to let Soi Dog return the animals to their home neighborhoods. This has been a recurring issue with Or Bor Tors before we begin collaborating with them, but to date, every one has agreed to let us return the dogs to the streets.

On 3 December, John and Gill Dalley, Khun Toom, and Gregg Tully met with several officials of Vichit Or Bor Tor who expressed enthusiastic support for the program. We attended a follow-up meeting at the Or Bor Tor offices on 20 December with 12 people � community leaders from throughout the Or Bor Tor as well as government officials. The attendees were very interested in learning how the sterilization program will create a smaller, healthier canine population. We made it clear that while we are willing to sterilize cats, the focus must be on dogs. After a positive, open discussion, all attendees expressed support and agreed to a schedule of locations for the clinics.

The Or Bor Tor agreed to promote the mobile clinics and encourage people to bring dogs to the clinics in a number of ways which may include placing large billboards along main roads, printing leaflets and giving them to the community leaders to distribute, printing large banners to put at the clinics, advertising the program on an electric sign over a busy road, and driving around in a truck with loudspeakers announcing the program. Since there are many owned dogs in this area this promotion is very valuable, and is far easier for the Or Bor Tors to do than for Soi Dog to do ourselves. The Or Bor Tor�s health department offered to have a helpline that people can call who want their dogs to be sterilized. The Or Bor Tor said they will contribute staff to help catch dogs and may donate medical equipment.

The assistance with catching will be particularly helpful in Vichit because the urban environment is conducive to using nets which is easier with more people to cover the dogs� escape routes, and a large rubbish dump at an incinerator is home to a roaming dog population which will be difficult to catch. On 7 January Soi Dog begins operation in Vichit Or Bor Tor, in Phuket Town. We plan to work in Vichit through March, and then turn our attention to the neighboring Mueang Or Bor Tor. We already had a very positive meeting with officials of Mueang Or Bor Tor on 3 December. Although Mueang is very small � only 12 square kilometers � it covers most of Phuket Town, the largest town on the island, and it has the densest human population of Phuket�s Or Bor Tors. Therefore we expect to spend three months working there.

Source: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=479983125376761&set=a.479983105376763.98542.108625789179165&type=1&relevant_count=2

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Soi Dog Foundation

Established in 2003 in Phuket, Thailand, Soi Dog is Southeast Asia's largest organisation helping stray animals. The Gill Dalley sanctuary in Phuket is home to over 1,600 animals. Soi Dog also has a treatment facility in Bangkok and responds to crisis situations throughout Thailand. The organisation is dedicated to implementing effective, sustainable solutions that reduce the suffering of dogs and cats in Asia, runs entirely on donations and works efficiently so all donations are used to help animals as effectively as possible.

The foundation is a registered not-for-profit organisation in Thailand, the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, France and Holland. It has a maximum 4-star rating with Charity Navigator, the largest and most-utilised independent non-profit evaluator in the United States, a platinum seal of transparency from Candid, the world’s largest source of non-profit information, a Top Rated award from Greatnonprofits and the Travelers’ Choice award from Tripadvisor.

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