How a Sheriff became a Rocky

Dear friends of our blog,

Today we would like to tell you a wonderful story that we experienced with a street dog from our area. A drop in the ocean - but these little miracles deserve to be told.

As you all know by now, here in Thailand we are committed not only to helping people in need, but also to the countless strays and street dogs that sit on almost every corner on the streets, looking for food or even a new owner. About 500 meters away from us, on a piece of vacant land (actually more of a garbage dump), there is a pack of about 8 dogs that we have been feeding regularly for several months. It is a mixed pack of abandoned and neglected dogs that, like everywhere else, come together in a group. Dogs do not like being alone at all and - if people don't want them - like to socialize with each other in hierarchical groups. These dogs have all had to have experiences with people, and this is clearly noticeable. They are shy and distrustful to this day and only come to the full food bowls if we step back a few steps.

Our garbage dump pack: 6-8 dogs come regularly for feeding

These street dogs, left to their own devices, struggle through their sad lives every day - abandoned by people who, as Buddhists, should value every life. Most of these packs are neither aggressive nor conspicuous, but it is precisely these prejudices that make most people simply look the other way. Of course, there are always incidents where dogs attack people - but it is never the dogs' fault. There is no such thing as a "bad" dog. They follow their survival instincts and their experiences as long as they do not receive regular attention from people. Even wolves never attack people - unless they are provoked or are starving and then act out of desperation.

Now in the pack that we fed there was a brown mixed breed male, like the hundreds that roam the streets of Hua Hin. But he was obviously the boss of the pack and was becoming increasingly trusting. Numerous scars and wounds on his head and all over his body testified to the many battles he had to fight to survive on the streets. The abandoned dogs are usually much worse off than the dogs that have lived on the streets since they were puppies. But this guy was clearly used to people. He came to us with his tail wagging and came closer and closer every time we fed him until we could pet him. Since he was always the first to go to the bowls and always took a test bite before the other dogs dared to come closer, we called him "Sheriff". The boss in the ring, the one with the gun. Despite his emaciated figure, he seemed very strong and assertive. The rest of the pack kept a certain distance from him and avoided his gaze. After eating, everyone except Sheriff went back home. He liked to stay with us and enjoyed a little attention and sometimes a treat for dessert. He could even give paw and understood the "sit" command. So he was a former human companion who had somehow ended up on the street. He had a wonderfully direct but unobtrusive and calm manner - not at all nervous and always on the move like the rest of the pack. If we didn't already have our two dogs, Sheriff would be at home with us and safe. We wished him such luck with another family every day we saw him.

One day we found Sheriff with his head hanging down and his snout bleeding. There was a large gash in his upper lip and a piece of flesh was still hanging from the wound. When he tried to eat something, his fang pierced through the hole in his lip from the inside and got caught in it, so that he could no longer close his mouth and tried in pain to free the tooth from the open wound. We couldn't bear to watch this. After a short discussion, we lured Sheriff to us and while I was stroking him, I carefully reached under his belly to lift him up. It was a tricky moment because he was injured and nobody knows how a dog will react to a stranger touching him like that. He looked at me and I somehow knew that he trusted me at that moment. So I picked him up and carefully carried him to the car. He let himself be maneuvered into the back seat without any problems and I drove off to the veterinary clinic. During the drive I talked to him and tried to hold him with one hand behind the driver's seat. He squeezed past - and suddenly he was standing between the front seats with his tail wagging, his front paws on the center console, looking out the front window. Despite his gaping wound, he looked happy and survived the trip to the veterinary clinic without any problems. He had obviously enjoyed riding in the car a lot at some point.

Good Boy! The doctor will be here soon to take a look

After extensive examination, it turned out that Sheriff was basically in good health and only his wound needed stitches. He was given a place in the back of the clinic between other patients and even had a radio with Thai music next to his cage. On the third day, his wound was stitched up inside and out. We visited him every day and he always greeted us happily with his tail wagging. He quickly became a favorite of the clinic staff, we were told. He was so grateful to be around people again that he let everyone around him feel it. I took him for a walk in a small outdoor area of the clinic and I realized that I would never be able to put this dog back on the street. He wanted to be close to people so much that he snuggled up to the legs of the people around him almost like a purring cat. No, no one in their heart could put a guy like that back on the street. A solution had to be found.

Sheriff was supposed to stay in the clinic for a few more days for follow-up care. We therefore had very little time to find a solution for him. I spoke to our German-speaking friends and advertised in various Facebook groups. I also spoke to the clinic staff and asked them to try to find a place for this wonderful dog. A Thai family had already expressed interest, but unfortunately it was just verbal. We ourselves know, of course, that it is almost impossible to find a good home for a dog like him. The many private rescue centers are already at their limits, and very few people want a fully grown mixed-breed dog as a buddy at home. The clock was ticking and we were slowly running out of ideas.

Then, at our morning get-together with the German-speaking community, I was approached by the news that there was a Swiss couple looking for a new dog. Contact was quickly made and new hope arose for Sheriff. The couple had recently lost their beloved dog and now wanted to take a new, needy four-legged friend into the family. I was able to get to know the two very friendly people straight away and we went to the clinic together to see Sheriff shortly afterwards.

Even though I don't have much time for "love at first sight" anymore, what I was able to experience can only be described as such. The dog immediately went up to the man and looked him in the eyes for a long time. Then he wagged his tail and laid his head in his hands. He let himself be stroked with pleasure while nibbling on the treats that had been brought along, and it was quite obvious that the two of them were smitten. My heart filled with joy and I briefly looked up into the blue sky to make a small wish. As I said goodbye, I saw how eyes filled with tears and I was not the only one whose emotions were overflowing with happiness.

Two nights and further confirmation visits later, it was said and decided: Sheriff will get a new and very loving home!

Just a few days later, the new parents were finally allowed to take their Sheriff home. The new owner had a great idea and spent a few days in a dog-friendly boarding house a little way out, right by the sea. The two boys quickly became friends - yes, and Sheriff eventually became "Rocky". A great name that our brave fighter has honestly earned. Rocky and his new "parents" are now inseparable. I have already been able to visit them and see how well they are all doing together. We are overjoyed, along with everyone involved, that this story ended so wonderfully.

Rocky is a football fan, much to the delight of his new master

Epilogue to this:

A few days ago, Ye-Soon was feeding the rest of the pack at the garbage dump again. There, a young man asked her if she knew what had happened to the missing brown dog. He had also been checking on the dogs again and again and had been missing this one trusting dog for some time. He called him "Walter" and had expected the worst. But when we happily told him the story and showed him photos of Walter-Sheriff-Rocky's new life, a weight was lifted from his shoulders. Another person we were lucky enough to see so happy.

The world is not quite as bad as it seems at the moment - as long as these little miracles keep happening.

Thank you for your interest and see you soon.