My Chiang Mai: Finding true love

Who says you can't buy love? For the small price of food and toys, you can have unconditional love. And I mean the real stuff, not bar-girl love.

My best buddy is Harry, or as my neighbours like to call him, 'Hallee Potthur'. He's actually named after Dirty Harry, but no one gets that here. I got the 'little' guy when he was just eight weeks old and fit in the palm of my hand. He's a miniature pinscher, but I'd use that term loosely, seeing how he has grown to about three times the size of one. The dog book I have says this breed is 'high-energy indoors'; boy, is that an understatement!

We have a good time though, he likes to run in circles and bark at every dog that comes by the house. He used to squirm through the fence to see the neighbours' Golden Retriever, 'Pumpkin' (I always think I should have named Harry whatever the word is for pumpkin in Thai). However, after a few times of Harry pushing in their door and hanging out in their house as though he lived there, we had to put up some better fencing.

It's strange in a country with so many stray dogs that most Thais on the street are terrified of Harry, sometimes crossing the road to get away from us. I suppose it doesn't help that he's got a very toothy grin. He's the sweetest little guy though and sometimes I just watch him sleeping and am just amazed at how cute he is - when he's sleeping.

He's not so cute when a pack of stray dogs is running towards us and he wants to bark at them while I'm carrying his chubby little body and trying to run the other way. He is very cute though when he wants some people food, making the adorable puppy dog face he rarely has otherwise.

Although 'high-density' Harry is quite heavy for his small size, he thinks that everyone who visits the house would like to have him sit in their lap. He loves to bring you one of his bones though - not so you can have it, but so you can hold it for him while he chews on it.

Harry likes to hump his stuffed animals, especially the big hippo. We got him a companion dog, Yin-Dee (Thai word for 'pleasure'), but she's very skinny and he favours the hippo. The dogs not only provide great companionship, but lots of entertainment too.

Where to get a dog

When you adopt from a rescue organisation, you will be helping out shelters that are struggling with the overflow of dogs that need homes and help. These dogs are already vaccinated and spayed/neutered which will save you a lot of hassle later. Some are already trained and housebroken as well. Dog rescues also have puppies and small dogs.

Love Animal Sanctuary: Chiang Mai: email: loveanimalclub@yahoo.com, tel: 0-9855-5923.
Soi Dog Rescue: Bangkok (will ship dogs to CM): www.soidogrescue.org, email: sheridan@loxinfo.co.th
Lanna Dog Rescue: is a professional Thai/European effort for caring for homeless dogs; contact:Roshan Dhunjibhoy, 6/9, Huay Keaw Road, Soi 3, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand Tel: 053 - 21 28 10
www.lannadog.net

Additionally, you can check local newspaper/magazine listings which often have free dogs. You might even go around asking your Thai neighbours, you'd be surprised how many people want to get rid of their dog or puppies.

It's also possible to just pick one off the street, but be careful as these dogs can carry diseases and have emotional problems as a result of living a hard life.

Do not purchase puppies from pet stores or markets. These dogs are often poorly bred and their parents are over-bred; they can have genetic defects you may not discover until much later. Purebred dogs do not fare so well in this hot climate.

By Chantana Jasper from the US

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