Soi Dog Brings Hope to Pets Stranded in Thailand’s Monsoon Floods

A torrent of late-season monsoon rain has once again reminded Thailand that disasters rarely respect either province lines or species. From the low-lying plains of Ayutthaya to the bustling streets of Hat Yai, the Phuket-based Soi Dog Foundation has stitched together an emergency corridor that shuttles food, vaccines and hope to animals and owners caught in waist-deep water. Over several hectic weeks the charity’s veterinarians, rescue drivers and local volunteers have ferried hundreds of dogs and cats to dry ground, administered life-saving medicine and reassured families that their four-legged companions will not be left behind.

Stranded on Rooftops: When Floodwater Meets the Human-Animal Bond

The most vivid image from this year’s deluge is 70-year-old Aunt Sao gripping the corrugated roof of her Chachoengsao shack while 69 terrified animals huddled around her. By the time rescuers arrived, only 26 remained alive, each one skeletal and shivering but still responding to their owner’s voice. The foundation evacuated the group, supplied high-protein feed, treated dehydration and found temporary kennels so the elderly caretaker could repair her home. Local officials say scenes like this play out whenever the Bang Pakong River overflows, yet systematic rescue for pets has historically lagged behind human aid. This gap, animal-welfare advocates argue, erodes community morale because many residents refuse to evacuate if their animals cannot go with them.

Rapid-Fire Logistics From Central Plains to the Deep South

The present operation began in October when prolonged overflow from the Chao Phraya basin swamped Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. As social media photographs of marooned puppies circulated, mobile sterilisation units parked at ancient temple grounds were quickly refitted as rescue trucks. Two weeks later the same convoy rolled 940 km south after tropical storm Saola stalled over Songkhla. Inside each vehicle lay stacks of kibble donated by Nestlé (Thai), thermal blankets financed by Food Innova Trading and Service and vaccination coolers labelled Mars Petcare (Thailand). Such corporate contributions, the foundation says, allow it to keep teams in the field until “the last sandbag comes down,” a pledge that has become its informal slogan since 2021’s record-breaking floods.

Why Disease Prevention Starts Before the Water Drains

Long after television crews leave, pools of stagnant runoff can turn a flood zone into an incubator for Leptospirosis, parvovirus and rabies. Veterinarian Dr. Sakdapol Thongjan explains that every rescued animal receives a combo vaccine, deworming tablets and a microchip that logs follow-up appointments. The strategy mirrors protocols used after Typhoon Nor in 2022, when Soi Dog vaccinated more than 18,000 animals and recorded no major outbreak. Provincial livestock officers working alongside Prince of Songkla University are also mapping areas where carcasses were buried, a practice endorsed by public-health experts to curb vector-borne transmission. Officials emphasise that these safeguards protect people as much as pets, noting that the 2011 central-Thailand floods saw a 34% rise in human leptospirosis cases in the months that followed.

Keeping Relief Alive Once Headlines Fade

Maintaining a field clinic costs roughly ฿120,000 per week, covering fuel, antibiotics and portable ultrasound units. Donations, whether a single bag of food or a wire transfer to the group’s Phuket HQ, determine how long that clinic stays. Supporters can reach the foundation by phone at 076-681-029 during office hours or by email at ble@soidog.org. For residents unable to give money, staff suggest reporting any cluster of stranded animals—the sooner teams know, the better the survival odds. As floodwaters inch back into canals and paddies, Soi Dog’s vans remain parked outside makeshift shelters, engines idling, ready for the next distress call. In a country where water continues to rewrite geography, the organisation aims to ensure that compassion keeps pace with every rising tide.