Located on Le Thanh Ton Street (Ia Kring Ward, Pleiku City, Gia Lai Province) is a place called a shelter for "four-legged friends". Here, there are always people on duty 24/7 to be ready to rescue dogs and cats in emergency situations. Coming to the Station, each dog and cat has a special situation. However, with all their love, the members of the Station still try every day to take care of and heal both their skin wounds and their hearts.
Home of "four-legged friends"
Gently stroking the dog that was rescued by the Station more than a month ago, Ms. Nguyen Thai My - Head of the Gia Lai Dog and Cat Rescue Station slowly told about her attachment to this rescue station.
Ms. My said that the Gia Lai Dog and Cat Rescue Station was established in September 2024 with 5 members. The members of the group do many jobs, come from different places but all share the same love and desire to protect dogs and cats.
“The members of our group mainly live in Pleiku City. Although each person has a job, at any time, if we receive information about abandoned dogs or cats, we will split up to go to the rescue. After rescuing them, the group will immediately take them to the veterinary clinic to check their health, treat them if they are injured, and then take them back to the station,” said Ms. My.
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| Ms. Nguyen Thai My - Head of the Dog and Cat Rescue Station in Gia Lai |
Ms. My confided that doing good deeds is not easy. There were times when the group was chased away, and there were also rumors that the group rescued dogs and cats and sold them, but because of their heart and knowing that they were doing the right thing, everyone overcame their sadness to continue maintaining the activities.
“Actually, I think that no matter what job it is, there will be people who praise and people who criticize, and it is impossible to avoid people's judgments. However, we rescue dogs and cats with all our heart, so gradually people around us understand and support the work we are doing,” My confided.
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| Dogs rescued by station members |
Having a special love for dogs and cats, Mr. Tao Quang Thong (Hoa Lu Ward, Pleiku City) is the person who remembers most clearly every feature of each animal he has rescued. Where the dogs and cats were rescued, what their circumstances were, what color they were, and how many wounds they had on their bodies, Mr. Thong remembers them all.
Mr. Thong shared that when they were rescued and brought to the station, each animal was given a unique name to easily distinguish them. “To be able to work with dogs and cats, you have to be really persistent, patient and loving enough. And while taking care of them, you can’t avoid being bitten. I have had more than 10 rabies shots because of the bites all over my arms. In addition, dogs are very sensitive, sometimes out of fear, they become aggressive. Therefore, it takes a lot of time to get used to and approach them before they gradually become friendly and close to you,” Mr. Thong confided.
Concerns about funding and food sources
The amount of money spent on maintaining the rescue and care of dogs and cats is not a small number as more and more dogs and cats are brought to the station. According to the station members, the biggest problem at present is the unstable funding to maintain the operation. Every month, some members who can afford it have to pay out of their own pocket to make up for it.
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| The rescued dogs gradually became friendly because they were wholeheartedly cared for and loved by the members. |
Every month, nearly 50 dogs and cats being cared for here spend more than 5 million VND on food. Along with that, the cost of rescuing and treating a dog or cat is about a few hundred thousand VND but sometimes up to several million VND. There are costs for medicine, treatment, vaccination, deworming, food, electricity, and care support.
Ms. My said that the Gia Lai Dog and Cat Rescue Station has only been established for more than 3 months, and there are no cages yet, mainly rudimentary fences. Most of the funding is mobilized from animal lovers or some members pay out of their own pocket, so the care is still difficult.
“The number of abandoned and endangered dogs and cats is increasing, while the station lacks a specialized rescue area to care for and protect them. Many stray dogs and cats still need help, so the station has called for financial support to build and upgrade shelters, provide medical care and create opportunities to find new families,” My added.
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| The monthly food cost for nearly 50 dogs and cats is more than 5 million VND. |
It is known that the station members are currently in the process of completing the barn system on an area of 130 m2, including 20 barns with a capacity of over 50 pigs. Because there is not much funding, the station members themselves go to find and buy materials, design and construct to save the most on additional costs.
“Our biggest wish is that the dogs and cats here will have a clean place to live, have space to play and they will feel cared for and loved. We also hope that more and more people will join and spread this humanitarian activity,” My shared.
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| Members construct the barn area themselves to minimize additional costs. |
Although the work of rescuing dogs and cats is difficult and tiring, Ms. My, Mr. Thong or the members of the station have never thought of giving up or stopping the rescue station. All of them understand that without the rescue station, the dogs and cats will be abandoned again like the way they were treated before. At that time, the beloved dogs and cats will be helpless again and who will take care of them for the next long days?
As soon as she finished speaking, My and her colleagues received another phone call saying that a dog needed urgent help. Immediately, without being told, the team members stood up, prepared their supplies, and set off. They set off again, continuing their journey to fulfill their mission of saving the lives of their “four-legged friends”.
The Dog and Cat Rescue Station (Le Thanh Ton Street, Ia Kring Ward, Pleiku City, Gia Lai Province) was established in September 2024 with 5 members, led by Ms. Nguyen Thai My. The members of the group do many jobs, come from different places but all share the same love and desire to protect dogs and cats. Sharing about her upcoming plans, Ms. My said that the group may expand its scale to take in more abandoned and injured dogs and cats. In the near future, the group will regularly organize meetings to share experiences in pet care or ways to prevent diseases for pets. |
Source: https://congthuong.vn/tram-cuu-ho-cho-meo-dac-biet-o-gia-lai-367180.html
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