To gain insight into the issue of stray animals in Bangkok, our Middle Loop students travelled to a local temple in Bangkok as part of their Beyond the Walls trip for their Explore project. G8 learners Maya and Jessie delved into the heart of the issue by participating in this animal sterilization event organized by Maria Thongklam, as part of her commendable initiative, '52 Temples in 52 Weeks’.

In Explore projects, learners at VERSO choose a project based on their personal interests and connect the goals to academic skills, abilities, and knowledge.

Maria is known for her dedication in tackling the issue of stray cats in Bangkok. Through her program, she orchestrates trapping and spaying events aimed at sterilizing stray cats from temples and local communities to curb their population growth. Since she began this initiative back in June 2023 she has managed to spay 763 temples and stray cats for free.

Maya (left) and Jessie (right)went on a Beyond the Walls excursion to a local  temple to gain insight into the issue of stray animals in Bangkok

"The event was an eye-opening experience for us as we witnessed firsthand the meticulous process of spaying cats. Under the skilled hands of the medical team, stray cats were swiftly examined, sterilized, and cared for before being released back into their environment,” shared Maya.  She added that the efficiency with which the team operated was truly commendable, as they worked tirelessly to spay as many animals as possible within the span of the event.

The learners witnessed firsthand the meticulous process of spaying cats

The number of animals present at the event underscored the magnitude of the stray animal crisis in Bangkok. With over 50 cats in need of sterilization, it became evident that concerted efforts are required to address this pressing issue.

"This was an eye-opening experience for us as we witnessed firsthand the meticulous process of spaying cats.”

-MAYA 

Inspired by this experience, our learners’ commitment to reducing the stray animal population in Bangkok has only strengthened. Jessie and Maya recognized the importance of supporting organizations like PAWS Bangkok, which provides free and low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary health services with the goal of creating a smaller and healthier street animal population. 

“By understanding the specific needs of shelters and participating in events such as sterilization campaigns, we can contribute meaningfully to the cause,” added Jessie.

Jessie and Maya will raise funds to support the ‘52 Temples in 52 Weeks’  initiative by selling specially designed bags (shown below) by Maria Thongklam, with the logo crafted by Middle Loop learners Anya and Tonpai as part of their Networking Explore project last quarter.

“During this trip we were able to understand the importance of controlling the stray animal population and the significance of spaying strays as soon as possible to prevent unwanted litters and help improve the overall health and well-being of stray animals”,  Maya said. 

"By understanding the specific needs of shelters and participating in events such as sterilization campaigns, we can contribute meaningfully to the cause."

-JESSIE

Maria Pannakan, our Student Success Learning Designer who has been working with the learners and is part of the neighboring Thana City dog spaying mission, explained that Thana City has over 100 stray dogs. The only way forward is to sterilize the dogs to reduce the population. 

The dynamic duo behind the Thana City dog spaying mission: The Marias !

During the past month,  there has been a mass spay and neuter program happening in Thana City, or CNVR (Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return) project sponsored by Soi Dog Foundation. They have caught 94 dogs so far and they have all been taken for sterilization, as well as given rabies and combination vaccines. After recovery, they are released back into the areas they came from. Three sterilization missions have been carried out over the last year in Thana City and a total of 128 dogs have now been sterilized and 13 puppies have found forever homes.

Jessie and Maya speak with Maria Thongklam about her '52 temples in 52 Weeks' campaign, aimed at sterilizing stray cats from temples and local communities to curb their population growth.

“We specifically targeted the females to have the maximum impact on reducing the stray dog population. The many abandoned houses in Thana City provide a deep labyrinth of tunnels for the dogs to hide in, making it extremely difficult for the catchers to dart and pull the dogs out. They have had to crawl deep under houses and over high walls. The dedication of this catching team and the care they have for the dogs is amazing,” she shared.

In addition to Jessie and Maya’s efforts in raising awareness of this community problem, the Upper Loop’s VERSO+ Activism Club also joined in the endeavor and raised funds during Winter Fest in December 2023 to support this project.

VERSO+ Activism Club raised over THB13,000 to support the Thana City Stray animals project

Jessie and Maya recognize the importance of supporting organizations like PAWS Bangkok, which provides free and low-cost spay/neuter and veterinary health services to cats with the goal of creating a smaller and healthier street animal population. 

If you would like to support the continuation of this project, any donations would be greatly appreciated. Although the actual spaying and catching is sponsored by Soi Dog the project requires funding. The catching is not possible without regular feeding,  locating the dogs and puppies, as well as providing medication to prevent deadly parasite infections.

The many abandoned houses in Thana City provide a deep labyrinth of tunnels for the dogs to hide in. Dog catchers have had to crawl deep under houses and over high walls. 

Over the upcoming weeks, defleaing, deticking and worming the many puppies found will be a priority. Finding homes for pups also requires vet visits, vaccines, blood testing and medications. It takes a minimum of 50kg of dry food, 20kg of rice, 72 cans of food and 6+ parasite treatments per month! 

To donate, please email maria.pannakan@verso.ac.th  for transfer payment details. To follow and support Maria Thongklam’s projects, you may contact her here.