The Man That Rescues Dogs

Michael J Baines is a chef, born in Scotland and raised in Sweden, who moved to Thailand some twenty years ago, where he opened a restaurant. What followed over the best of two decades was nothing short of amazing.

Whilst TMTRD is definitely one of the most oddly named charitable organisations anywhere, there is nothing odd about Michael J Baines, founder and president of TMTRD.

Since he moved to Thailand, Michael discovered that stray dogs are a fact of life there, accepted as such by the population where cultural norms differ greatly from what we are used to in  Northern European and Scandinavian countries.  Michael has progressed from feeding a stray to overseeing an organisation that looks after hundreds of dogs, including blind, severely injured and disabled canines. He leapt to fame when many international news organisations, including the BBC, broadcast the story of the dozens of paralysed dogs fitted with their own wheelchairs.

In the beginning…

It started simply enough as Michael found an injured and hungry dog outside his restaurant. Naturally, he fed it some scraps, and this solitary dog led to……

Over six hundred dogs in a newly constructed shelter need much looking after. The day starts at 5 am, when the cleaning process begins. The disabled have to be fitted with their wheelchairs and let loose to run, usually with a member of staff leading the way. Well, that’s until they get overtaken by the more enthusiastic runners who have no trouble getting a good head of steam on!! Of course, it should be noted that before being fitted with their wheels, some paralysed dogs must have their bladders emptied as their natural function is impaired. Just in case any of you are wondering, emptying a paralysed dogs bladder is in fact a fairly simple process and needs no special training, however, a lesson from a veterinary surgeon is required. As for fitting a dog into their wheels it can be done in under a minute.

Breakfast is served to the shelter residents before a truck departs to feed hundreds more roaming the streets. Meals consist of dry dog food, rice and meat. Mid-morning brings physiotherapy and hydrotherapy for the disabled and paralysed dogs, and as for the rest of the day, well, that’s more exercise plus dinner. Plus, of course, poop-a-scooping, and let’s face it, 600 dogs produce a lot of poop!!

A daily clinic provides free veterinary care from three veterinary surgeons who neuter as many animals as possible, plus visits to the sanctuary can be arranged from a single individual to schools. The shelter staff also has to cope with nursing mums and their pups. As if all of that is not enough, the staff must ensure all the animals receive their medication, and the injured ones have their wounds dressed. As there is a culture of hostility towards stray dogs in Thailand, many rescued dogs suffer from a degree of mistrust of humans as they have been very badly treated, so staff have helped them to overcome their fear of humans.

Challenges facing the charity

With between thirty and forty staff needed to cope with this enterprise, it also employs the staff who are all paid a competitive salary, plus food and accommodation. If there is a plus side, it’s the climate; whilst temperatures drop in winter, the weather is a lot kinder than in northern Europe. Fortunately, the local authority has realised the benefits of caring for strays and is very supportive. Let’s be honest. Considering the global interest in this project and the jobs that it creates, they must be absolutely delighted. It’s also not bad for tourism!

Obviously, in the beginning, Michael was known locally as the man who rescues dogs, hence the title, but even in his wildest dreams, Michael could never have imagined how his compassionate nature that led to him feeding one hungry stray animal would snowball into the huge enterprise it is now.

As always, the whole undertaking relies on donations.

NB. There are many options for dogs with mobility issues, including leg braces, wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs. Advice should be sought from a veterinary surgeon as the wrong appliance can cause permanent damage to the animal’s skeletal structure, and bad fitting can result in painful sores.