Dozens of disabled stray dogs use wheelchairs for their daily walk

With tails wagging to a chorus of barks and yelps, dozens of disabled dogs attached to wheels that support their disabled hind legs looked ecstatic as they took their daily walk at a sanctuary in Thailand.  Mostly victims of accidents, the 27 dogs are being nursed back to health at a shelter in Thailand's province of Chonburi southeast of the capital, Bangkok. They beamed from ear to ear as they took to the rocky track with their wheels for their dose of exercise for the day. 'It's almost like they have no idea that they have a disability and once you put them in the wheelchair for the first time, it's like there's no learning curve,' said shelter official Christopher Chidichimo.  and was so dismayed by the poor condition of strays that he started caring for them after work. But its future is now in doubt, after the coronavirus pandemic led to a 40 per cent drop in donations and slashed the number of foreign visitors.  Share this article Share 'The donations are very important and the volunteers and visitors are equally important, because they come and spread our message,' said Chidichimo, who is a sponsorship coordinator at the shelter. .  Its volunteers also look after paralysed and disabled dogs, including physiotherapy sessions, but scarce funds have forced it to suspend a monthly campaign to spay and neuter strays. Thailand, estimated to have more than 800,000 stray cats and dogs in 2017, could see their number reach 2 million by 2027 and 5 million in 20 years unless it takes some steps to control numbers, livestock authorities says. For now, the disabled dogs in Chonburi enjoy their daily rambles. 'They are eager for us to strap them up,' said dog handler Phanuphong Borphuak, referring to the canine mobility aids.'They run very fast, we humans can't keep up with them.'