By Lesley
Warner
Do you remember the Pattaya Animal Welfare Society (PAWS)
originally conceived by founding chairwoman Mirin MacCarthy in February 2000
as an informal membership club to help animals? You may mistakenly think
that they have disappeared, but you are wrong. With only the efforts of a
few volunteers, in December 2000 they succeeded in submitting a formal
application to the Thai Government for society approval as a registered
charitable foundation.
PAWS have four primary foundation objectives. Through
donations, volunteer and paid staff work, to help the government in
providing humane, responsible and systematic control over the stray animal
population in the greater Pattaya area. This will be by assisting the
government in capturing, transporting, sterilizing, giving rabies
vaccinations and providing identification to stray animals, returning them
to where they originally came from, or transferring them to other forms of
shelter. Working with temples in the region to enhance their function as
traditional, free-roaming animal sanctuaries and then on to the sois. By
accomplishing the above, PAWS can help reduce the animal population, the
spread of rabies and make Pattaya a more attractive and cleaner residence
and tourist destination.
This
lonely stray found a comfortable place to sleep
The society’s plan is to first obtain legitimacy as an
official, registered, charitable foundation. The foundation’s formal
application to become a registered charity has received the support of the
mayor of Pattaya, been endorsed by Banglamung District and is currently
under review by Chonburi Province. The probable timeframe for authorization
by the national government is year-end 2001. When legitimacy is achieved
PAWS will continue to coordinate with the city and province to get
assistance where possible and compliment future control efforts and secure
promises for sufficient start up capital to begin operations as soon as
practical after foundation approval. The aim of the society is to treat
2,500 dogs each year for 2 years, bringing the stray population under
control in the greater Pattaya area. After 2 years the situation will be
re-assessed.
Detailed operation plans and budgets have been finalized.
To date Bht2M in start-up capital and donation of a site for a surgical
clinic and animal recovery area have been pledged. Studies on contracting
out animal capture, sterilization and recovery with the government, versus
in-house operations, have been completed. A preliminary layout and design
for a surgical clinic and animal recovery area has been finished. And
research on potential corporate sponsors has begun.
It’s been calculated that it would cost Bht566 per
animal to capture, sterilize, recover and return. At 2,500 animals, this
annually is Bht1.4M. Capital expenditure infrastructure requirements to
launch PAWS amount to Bht2.1M. These numbers result in a present first year
shortfall in cash, goods and services, with pledges of Bht2M.
Upon receipt of approval, PAWS will carry out a volunteer
recruitment and fund raising campaign, construct a surgical clinic and
animal recovery area, recruit veterinary staff and begin operations.
What PAWS needs at this stage is the talents of a few
additional Thai and foreign volunteers, with plenty of available time and a
commitment for the long term. Efforts are needed in issue research and
staffing. Those interested may contact PAWS through the following email
address: [email protected]
As progress is made on making animal welfare an organized
reality in our community, PAWS will provide further updates.
Peter
Malhotra accepts a B50,000 donation on behalf of the Banglamung Hospital
from Mr. Charoon’s mother.
Pravit
Sisophon (center), director-general of the department of lands, and the
Green Tree Pub’s owner Charoon Kasemsantitham (2nd right) enjoy the
event.
Wayne
“Groupie” Tischbern – RIP friend