November 17, 1998
The truth about cats and dogs ANIMAL WELFARE: A bookshop owner with a big heart is working to help stray animals - and to educate people into thinking such creatures are also members of the community Story by Karnjariya Sukrung Photo by Yingyong Un-Anongrak A dog lies covered in blood in the street, a frail sick hound dumped in a trash can howls for help and in a gutter a new-born kitten has an open wound in her abdomen. Such gruesome sights break the heart of most animals lovers. Bussakorn Pichayatit is an animal lover, but more than just feeling sorry for such creatures, in her own small way she has been trying to do something to help. "People tend to love only the animals they own," she said. "If their pets are hit by the car, they will take them to hospital. But what about stray cats and dogs?" asked Ms Bussakorn. The softly-spoken woman who has a book shop on busy Phra Arthit Road, has seen too many tragic stray animals. Single-handedly, she has been sending sick strays to hospital or finding a place for them to rest in peace. However, she has realised the best way to help strays is to form a network of pet lovers and get collaboration from within the community to help them. Last April she started a small Cats and Dogs Fund, at her home-cum-bookshop Raan Nang Sue Lek Lek (Small Bookshop). She has also been campaigning for community awareness and urging people to take responsibility for strays. Currently, Ms Bussakorn is caring for about 20 stray cats and dogs. She collars them all and gives them names to prevent them from being killed by city officials. Each morning, she rises early to cook a big pot of rice for the six pet cats which live in her house, and the 20 strays which live on the street. She always ensures the water basin in front of her house is full for the thirsty creatures. The food preparation takes up much of her time and she is rarely free to work in her bookshop until noon. Most of the strays arrive at her shophouse in the early afternoon for their meal. For newcomers or strays living on the other side of the street at Meru Fort, Ms Bussakorn carries a tray of food over for them. "Apart from accidents, eating rotten food makes them sick. So I want to give them good food, that's not such a difficult thing to do." Over the months a sense of community care for Phra Arthit strays has emerged. Some of Ms Bussakorn's neighbours also put leftover food outside their shophouses. And the local street sweeper has become Ms Bussakorn's ally, keeping a lookout for strays and reporting newcomers or sick animals to her. Recently the Phra Athit Road area became a new hot night spot. More pubs and bars mean more strays are sacrificed to drunk or careless drivers. One of the latest victims was Kie, a long-time resident on the street. Old, blind in one eye, and not as fast as he once was, he was hit by a speeding car. For Ms Bussakorn, the growth of the inhumane city has encroached on the living space of the strays. Ms Bussakorn with one of her charges. The animal rescuer says cuats and dogs depend on humans for food, care and love and if people have no heart for them, they are in big trouble. "Who says the city is only for humans? Animals have their places too. That some of them live on the street is partly the fault of humans. But as the city grows, we are intent on kicking these animals out of our sight." On average, medication or a check-up for a sick cat or dog costs between 100-500 baht. Those which are seriously injured in accidents or suffer more serious diseases can cost anything from 500 baht to more than 10,000 baht. Ms Bussakorn recalled how she earned about 20,000 baht from a community campaign for the strays and nearly all of it went on one creature with cancer. "What can I say? What has to be done, has to be done," she said. After hospital treatment, the dog recovered and now it lives happily with the new master Ms Bussakorn helped to find. Sick kittens, if not sent to hospital, will stay at her home. She nurses them and cares for them until they are healthy. Then she passes them on to anyone who can offer them a good home. Once sick dogs recover, she lets them go back to their old spots on the street. "These dogs have their place they are familiar with. Although many people might say it's like returning them to the old risks, it's the best I can do. I don't have space to shelter them." During her three-year mission, Ms Bussakorn has spent an immense sum of money that she does not care to count or mention. "My friends and lots of other people who share my sympathy for strays have made it possible," she said. Some give her monthly donations or food for the strays. Others give donations when they visit her bookshop. Her neighbours are also a great support in helping with hospital fees. One Japanese expat gave her about 7,000 baht before he returned to Japan. Vets who know about her mission usually give her their support in kind and one at Rak Sat Clinic on Charan Sanitwong 77 helps by giving free medical treatment. When there are community events at Phra Arthit, one of Bangkok's cultural centres, Ms Bussakorn and her friends sell hand-made products to raise cash for the Cat and Dog Fund. "I believe in the goodness of the human heart. When people see others doing good, they normally want to help. If they are not in a position to help alone, they know they can support others who are doing something." Though the fund is now only in its eighth month, Ran Nang Sue Lek Lek (the Small Bookshop) has become a centre for pet lovers and those who want to help strays. People come to chat and consult with Ms Bussakorn about their pets' rearing problems. Even when a cat is stuck on a roof, people in the area call for her advice. What Ms Bussakorn dreams of is a community network of animal lovers, and that is indeed emerging. Her goal, she said, is a community which feels responsible for strays and views them as members of the community. An ideal community, she said, would be one in which members take it upon themselves to help animals in distress and give them a safe atmosphere in which to live. She said vets and officials also need to support this community spirit if it is to succeed. "If everybody helps, dogs and cats can live happily in the area. All it takes is to feed them, vaccinate and sterilise them, and most importantly, not to hurt them, that's not asking too much," she said. Ms Bussakorn has already sent a proposal to the deputy governor about her ideas to manage stray animals in the community. One proposal calls for speed limits and street signs urging people to beware of cats and dogs. The plan is still being considered. Since they know where they can find help, sick and hungry strays now come knocking at her door. Without any degree in veterinary science, Ms Bussakorn has learned by instinct and experience how to nurse many sick animals back health. "It all comes from the heart. That teaches you what to do," she said. "Dogs and cats are domestic animals. They depend on humans to give them food, care and love, and if people have no heart for them, they are in big trouble." Info for donations: Name: Cat and Dog Fund Founder: Bussakorn Pitchayatit Address: 142 Phra Athit Road, Chana Songkhram, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok Telephone: 282-4466 People are invited to drop by and join the community network caring for strays. To make a donation send a cheque, payable to Post Publishing Public Company Limited (Cats and Dogs Fund), to Kusuma Mintakhin, editorial manager, 136 Na Ranong Road, off Sunthorn Kosa, Klong Toey, Bangkok 10110. Or call her on 240-3700 ext 3224-5. 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