Michael J. Baines, also known as “The Man Who Rescues Dogs,” is a hero to many stray dogs in Thailand. Baines, a Scottish-born Swiss citizen, has made Thailand his home for 14 years. He was moved by the suffering of the country’s stray dogs and took action to help them.
Thailand has long been overpopulated with stray dogs, which are vulnerable to starvation, sickness, and being sold in the dog meat trade. Many locals believe that there are too many dogs and want to shoot them, but Baines disagrees.He blames the people who dump and harm the dogs, not the dogs themselves. If people start to educate themselves and treat dogs with compassion, the problem will slowly go away.
Baines first encountered a stray dog when he was working as the manager and chef of Carrot, a popular restaurant in the city of Chonburi. The dog was hungry and sick, and Baines could not bear to see her suffer. He prepared her some food, and she became a regular visitor to the restaurant. Baines eventually rescued the dog and took her home with him. She was just one of many dogs that Baines would go on to save.
Baines now feeds about 80 strays regularly, going out three times a day to deliver food to different locations where the dogs congregate. He has also been able to get about 100 dogs sterilized and found homes for around 30. Baines pays for all of this out of his own income, always putting the animals first.
Baines’ duties include going out to the streets to rescue the dogs, feeding them, and giving them a safe, warm place to rest. He also funds their sterilization and medical care. Finally, Baines tries to get the dogs adopted into good homes so that they can spend the rest of their days loved and protected.
Baines’ work is not easy, and it comes at a cost. Feeding the dogs costs Baines roughly $1000 a month, and the dogs often need medical attention. Baines accepts donations, but the majority of the outgoings come from his own wages. He believes that the dogs deserve to eat well and live in comfort, so he gives them chicken, fish, steamed rice, as well as homemade broth. This is a life of luxury compared to the dogs’ previous life of homelessness.
Baines’ work is not just about rescuing dogs, but also about changing people’s attitudes towards them. He believes that people who sell dogs for a high price are immoral and that markets and shops that sell puppies should be shut down completely. People who want a dog should head to the street or shelters. Baines has a bunch of dogs that need a home, and these dogs are free.
The most rewarding part of Baines’ job is seeing the dogs thrive. Some of them are really friendly and can be hugged and played with. Some are really scared, even after two years, but when they finally trust Baines, it is an amazing feeling. Baines believes that he is making a difference, one dog at a time.
Baines’ work has not gone unnoticed. Director Anna Röd Tjernström is creating a documentary based on Baine’s work, called “The Man Who Rescues Dogs.”
Baines sets an example for anyone who loves animals and wants to improve their lives. He shows that one person can have a huge impact on hundreds of lives with compassion and action.