Introducing Sandy the personal trainer

Sandy, a 4 year old tan and white spotted mix of several different breeds, is an inspirational example of a former Bangkok stray dog who managed to find a way off the streets and into a better life. On the strength of her impressive swimming ability and overall athleticism, Sandy was recently hired as a personal trainer at a special new pool for stray dogs with arthritic conditions that will open in Bangkok this week.

The Suvarnachad Canine Pool is a project initiated by His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who, as I mentioned in an earlier post, is a big supporter of Bangkok street dogs. Located at Bangkok’s Kasetsart University, the pool is named after His Majesty's pet dog Thongdaeng, who is himself a former street dog.

The pool will have two sections: one for healthy dogs to exercise, the other for suffering dogs to undergo physical therapy. And that's where Sandy comes in. She'll be working as a personal trainer providing therapy to the sickly street dogs, coaching and helping to push along their swimming exercises to help them gain maximum healing effect.

It's a high profile job, and a far cry from Sandy's humble beginnings as a pup wandering the crowded, dusty Chatuchak Weekend Market in northern Bangkok. "I was lucky to find a way off the streets and into a higher position in society," explains Sandy. "Now, I just want to give something back to my street dog brothers and sisters."