Makham is now picky about his food and a bit overweight. A bit too "sabai" a life style in Thailand. Makham is Starving No more! He has blossomed into a typical Rhodesian Ridgeback minus the ridgeback. He was a stray starving dog just over three years ago. We figure he was about 1 when he came to our house in 2008. He would quiver like i have never seen. Always quivering, and very scared at first. This got him the nickname "Quiversby." At first he was so timid he would take food and run behind the Giant Fern to eat it. Then poke his head out and slink back up to us for more! He had chased away other stay dogs in front of the house, he had a chain collar so we figured he had been a pet but by the number of ribs jutting out you we figured he had been starving for the last sixth month. He may have been lost, fallen from a vehicle or been taken to the Wat. Near our home is a Thai Buddhist temple called Wat Anghin. Traditionally when a family can no longer support something with food and water and cost of living due to being so poor they take it to the wat. The monks are then to take care of it. This can literally breed a massive problem with Wat dog population booming. This is controlled naturally be survival of the fittest. They don't all get fed well, a dog leader emerges and a dog pack is created. Runts, are typiccay the worst case sceniros. Our dog Sadie Saddleback is a Wat dog and last pick stray runt of the litter. I will tell about her in another blog update.
Most often left over school or temple donation food is provided for the dogs. If they are near starving as food is not always enoiugh, then tend not to over breed. but leaders emerge and get fed well and then try to impregnate any dog in heat he can. This is how the Thai dog Thai bankaew dog arose. From local natural selection breeding within a Wat Temple island over many many years.
The live wild yet tame to the monks and people. In peace they enjoy life at the Wat but as they have more and more puppies the problems begin. Food is not enough and the young puppies don't always get taken home very quickly. This makes them starve off and die quickly, although many dogs live their for years, losing every hair on it body or with a broken spine and 1/2 paralaysis. It is amazing to see how tough the digs are and how much they can survive. If problems occur or when budget is available local gov't livestock offices and local veterinary doctors come in to inoculate the females dogs so as not to produce more pups. Often not soon enough but it is also hard to catch every wild dog and it only takes one female Bitch in heat to make 8 more pups. Although 3-5 are more common.
Makham came to our home in September 2008. We liked his short sleek fur and felt bad he was so starving, so we offered him food and water. He was very timid and would shake vigorously at the touch, like tremors or convulsions. we realized the reason quickly, total excitement and happiness to have a new owner feeding him.
At first he would eat anything you put out, vegetables and rice no problem. Today he is a picky eater and picks around his vegetables. He is now a 70% trusted and safety dog at the house. He Barks at everything alive that move in the yard. Or anything at the front gate or in the road the decides to stop or slow down. All 2-cycle scooters beware, you are his favorite choice to run behind and bark at. It also anyone who comes to the house will be barked at vigorously until either you or he give up and leave. If you are a dog person he settles down but to many people he just barks at them like the are a snake. I am sure the slow scooter drivers passing our house are wishing they had a newer quiet bike and driving a little faster. When alone at home he loves to bite at insects and rocks. I will tell about this next time. I hope to post many pictures of local Thai Wat dogs. If you want to adopt them come to Thailand and pick them up. Because the wat dog can be adopted for free if your willing to pay the medical cost to rehabilitate them, all dog need good owners.
