With no money left in the bank, Pattaya is soliciting donations to care for 600 stray dogs foisted upon the city when the charity running a Pong Subdistrict shelter went bust.
Deputy Mayor Manote Nongyai and Surapol Sanguanchartisorakrai, president of the Sanguanchartisorakrai Foundation, which ran the shelter, toured the Ban Klong Yai shelter that became Pattaya’s problem June 1. More than 600 dogs remain at the site, looked after by seven employees.
Surapol said the foundation ran out of money to pay the workers after 100 percent of the donations it depended on dried up during the coronavirus pandemic. While there is still plenty of dog food, there was no money to pay the caretakers, he said.
Manote said the surprise reversion of Pattaya’s official dog shelter caught city hall off guard and there is no money in the budget to run the shelter or pay the workers. The deputy mayor said the city is asking for donations to cover operational costs until the 2022 budget kicks in Oct. 1.
Manote said food is not a problem, but the shelter does require three 60-square-meter awnings to cover dog cages from the sun and rain. He hopes some person or group will come forward to pay for them.
The deputy mayor also said the city has no intention of taking even one more stray dog under its care. Dog catchers will continue to work, but all the canines will be taken to the shelter, vaccinated and sterilized and set free again, unless someone comes forward to adopt them.
As for the 600 dogs already at the shelter, they will not be released and will continue to be cared for until they die, Manote said.
Anyone wishing to donate to the shelter can call 081-315-5773.
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