Bangkok Street Dogs

A place to learn about the lives of street dogs in Bangkok, Thailand, with emphasis on the individual characters of the Bangkok street dog community and their stories of hardship and humor.

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Friday, July 01, 2005

The Story of How Joe Found a Home



Joe, a three year brown mutt with distant German Shepherd ancestry, isn't really a street dog per se. Although he used to roam the area around Sukhumvit Soi 81, Joe was actually 'adopted' by a family about six months ago, and now spends much of his time living within the walls of their comfortable, happy home. He's pictured here getting a vigorous (and much-needed) scrubdown from his owner, Pi Dang.

Joe's story is one of a down-and-out street dog who had the very good fortune to be in the right place at the right time. Joe used to be a real nuisance in the Soi 81 neighborhood, and used to hang out with some pretty rough dogs who would often engage in vicious street brawls late at night. The resulting noise -- a horrific cacophony of snarling and shrieking -- would often wake up residents of the otherwise quiet neighborhood.

One night, after Pi Dang's wife and three daughters were woken up at 4:30 a.m. by a particularly nasty dogfight just outside their doorstep, an enraged Pi Dang came down with a cannister of pepper spray to dispense some vigilante justice to the still-battling hounds. But just as he was about to mace the dogs, Pi Dang's daughter, watching from an upstairs window, cried out "Wait, Dad, that dog right there (pointing at Joe) -- he's cute! Can we keep him?"

Pi Dang looked at Joe, looked back at his daughter, sighed, and took his finger off the trigger. The street dogs all ran away, except for Joe, who came trotting slowly over to Pi Dang, with a friendly, sheepish posture, as if to say "Sorry for all the noise, man."

The rest, as they say, is history. Joe is now a much loved member of Pi Dang's family, and although he has to endure the occasional bath, he tells me that its well worth it to be off the streets and in a real home. Although Joe's story is unusual, it does give the rest of us Bangkok street dogs hope that somewhere out there, in the endless eternal city, there's a family for us.

22 Comments:

Blogger Laura said...

In this dog-eat-dog world of ours, it's so nice to read a happy ending for some. As much as the family loves Joe, Joe loves his new family even more.

A great big Ahhhh!! for Joe.

7:57 AM  
Blogger sandy said...

Having been a rabble rouser myself and leaving many tails behind I can relate to Joe. I'd like to know what kind of shampoo he uses.

9:39 PM  
Blogger cat_aunty said...

love your blog man!

9:51 PM  
Blogger High Power Rocketry said...

:O) Great page! This is a topic I had never given one single second of thought before.

6:23 AM  
Blogger SillyBahrainiGirl said...

There is always some hope ;)

Glad Joe is now happy at home.

12:24 PM  
Blogger chuckdaddy2000 said...

Being the owner of a street dog my wife and got attached to in Mexico (shout out to Jack!), I, personally, think street dogs rock. We realized at the time that us taking one dog home wouldn't do much about the problem, but were amazed at people in the town who were actively trying to fix the problem. One lady had adopted 7 dogs and organized an annual pet neutering (she also made it not seem so crazy to take a dog home with us).

2:03 PM  
Blogger High Power Rocketry said...

You have quite a niche here!

Keep it coming though, I find your work really nice to read about. You combine good history, with cute dogs! Nothing wrong with that, even for such a masculine man such as myself :O)

6:24 PM  
Blogger still_figuring_out said...

aw...so sweet!

9:04 PM  
Blogger Rudy Roo said...

Great Story! You are permanently linked!!

2:32 AM  
Blogger High Power Rocketry said...

Permalinked!

2:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love your blog! Keep it up!

11:57 PM  
Blogger Gamesmaster said...

I'm really touched by your story. As the spiritual leader of the blogosphere's leading religion, we also accept intelligent animals, such as dogs into our faith, known as Confusionism.

Come visit us at:
http://www.cyber-pope.blogspot.com and we'll hook those lovely pooches with the Almighty.

12:58 AM  
Blogger Puey said...

:)

good for joe.
I wish they are happy :)

6:00 AM  
Blogger Rachel said...

What a wonderful blog! Way to go for helping these wonderful animals. Every one of them is so special. You see them as I do--individuals, like you and I.

5:26 PM  
Blogger Mark said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

7:08 PM  
Blogger Mark said...

When I first look at your blog. I was like oh another one of those crappy stupid blogs. Then I read the posts and I couldn't stop laughing. haha. Anyways, I link my you to my site. keep it up!

7:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

doggies. just too adorable for words. but of cos, u r the most intelligent and witty dog i've come across with the most fabulous writing style. would have tried to fix u up with my babies if u were a female...

7:32 PM  
Blogger Poh Tiong Ho said...

Surely some dogs can communicate with us.

6:25 AM  
Blogger Mona said...

What a terrific story and a great site. I found you on Blogger's featured sites.

9:38 AM  
Blogger Rebecca Jane said...

Casanova - I have to say that you are indeed a very handsome dog! and one who has created a fantastic site! I look forward to hearing more about your friends and wish that I could give more of you a happy home - it is a shame that Thailand is a little bit out of the way from my little Canadian home.
Great Job!

5:08 AM  
Blogger MJ said...

:) such a cute dog!!! Lucky too.

9:27 PM  
Blogger La Louve said...

am so happy for Joe! hope the rest of his gang find juliets from windows to adopt them too...

6:03 AM  

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