Pets Lifeline saves Thai dogs

A long, strange trip brings Sienna and Oreo to Sonoma|

Recent visitors to Pets Lifeline have done a double-take upon visiting the large enclosure that houses new arrivals Sienna and Oreo. “They look unlike any other dogs we've had here,” said executive director Nancy King.

The story behind these dogs is as unusual as the dogs themselves.

It all started when Gigi Garner, daughter of late actor James Garner, was attending the Sonoma International Film Festival in April and saw that Pets Lifeline was a sponsor. She called up executive director Nancy King and asked if the pet-rescue nonprofit might be interested in helping find homes for some street dogs from Thailand who were arriving in May. “I'm a rescuer and huge animal advocate,” said Garner, “and I support and follow all rescue/animal sites on Twitter.”

Garner said she'd stumbled upon a Twitter feed of an Australian teacher named Tamara Johnston who had been living in Thailand and rescuing street dogs in Songkhla.

“Tamara posted a gut-wrenching photo of some beautiful puppies who were literally living in a dangerous filthy alley near the road and I knew I had to help her somehow,” said Garner.

Learning that that most street dogs in Thailand either die from disease or starvation, and some dogs are also consumed as food, King leaped at the chance to get involved. A fast friendship was formed between Garner, Johnston and King.

Here's how the three brought two dogs from the mean streets of Songkhla to the more pleasant climes of Sonoma: Johnston finds people in Thailand who are flying nonstop from Bangkok to either Los Angeles or San Francisco who become flight volunteers. Once the flight volunteers are confirmed, the next step is flight sponsorship at the cost of $455. Johnston drives the dogs 12 hours from Songkhla to Bangkok to meet volunteers or when financing allows, she will fly with them to Bangkok.

When Garner contacted King that she had flight volunteers set for early May, Pets Lifeline was able to sponsor one dog ($400 flight and $55 crate) and take delivery of two dogs.

And voila... 9-month-old sisters Oreo and Sienna were on their way on a Boeing 787 to the United States.

According to Johnston, the street dog problem is especially widespread in the southern regions of Thailand and there are no sterilization programs or rescue foundations like there are in major metropolitan areas like Bangkok.

Ten years ago, Johnston adopted her own street dog – and adopting “Bella” spurred Johnston into the Thai street dogs' cause, and she's worked closely with them from that day forward. Johnston started up Thai Street Paws Rescue to provide a platform for fundraising, adoptions and updates.

“She initially planned to start small,” said King, “and to gradually grow the rescue mission but, of course, almost immediately found herself in at the deep end with a large number of dogs to look after.”

Johnston currently cares for around 30 dogs every day in the street near her home, and also runs a small foster home where the dogs can recover from health problems before they're adopted.

Now happily settling into their new digs on Eighth Street East, Sierra and Oreo should be socialized, trained and ready for adoption in about two weeks, according to King. “They are both very loving and affectionate dogs thanks to Tamara's amazing work,” said King. “Both love people and want nothing more than to be cuddled and petted.” Their breed is described as short-haired Thai mixed breed and they each weigh around 22 pounds and are almost full grown. They have been spayed and full vaccinated.

“These two sisters suffered, fought and survived distemper,” said King. “Now they are full of life, healthy and waiting for their forever homes.”

There's a crowdfunding site for Thai Street Paws Rescue at www.youcaring.com/tamara-johnston-441223

She can also be reached at:

EMAIL: (Also for PayPal) oztam76@hotmail.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/tamara.johnston.7

TWITTER: http://twitter.com/ozzytam76

SKYPE: Tamara.Johnston76

Contact Lorna at lorna.sheridan@sonomanews.com.

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