Amidst the chaos and demands of everyday life, there are those small, precious moments that have the power to make us smile, often when we least expect it. These moments serve as reminders of our fondest memories, cherished friendships, or beloved pets. Recently, a heartwarming photograph captured one such moment, spreading joy and warmth across the internet.
The image depicts a young boy carrying his loyal dog to the market early in the morning. This simple act touched the hearts of many and prompted an outpouring of positivity, accumulating up to 17,000 likes and hundreds of heartfelt comments.
Bui Tu Anh, a viewer of the photograph, was transported back to his own childhood memories as he gazed at the image. He reminisced about his spacious garden, where he raised dogs, cats, rabbits, and chickens. The sheer joy of nurturing these animals and spending carefree moments with them was enough to create lasting, beautiful memories.
The photograph’s magic lies in the dog’s endearing gesture of wrapping its forelimbs around its owner, a gesture that melts the hearts of all who see it. Perhaps, the boy is too young to understand his pet’s fear of falling, but he knows the remedy lies in holding his furry friend close as they journey together on the bike.
The photographer behind this heartwarming image, Ngan Ha, shared her story. She had visited Don Market in Phu Binh, Thai Nguyen, and encountered this scene that touched her deeply. Being an animal lover herself, she couldn’t resist capturing this special moment. She added, “I have pet dogs at home, so whenever I see a dog, I connect with it. This boy reminds me of my own childhood.”
To Ngan Ha’s surprise, her hastily taken photos at the market resonated strongly with the online community, sparking conversations and nostalgia about youthful memories with family pets.
The charming image of the boy and his loyal companion on their market adventure reignited the fond memories of countless people who had grown up with beloved pets. They recalled the times when pets were like family members, accompanying them on village adventures, or patiently sitting in carts with three-wheel platforms.
Sharing their stories, readers fondly remembered their own pets and their unique quirks. From daring bicycle rides with dogs to cats eagerly awaiting their owners at the school gate, these tales of companionship and love filled the comments section.
One commenter, Suy Huynh, even humorously pledged to save money and raise Pitbulls to spend their lives together in blissful companionship.
Today, pets are more than just animals; they provide companionship, emotional support, and reduce feelings of loneliness and stress. They boost self-esteem and bring forth positive emotions, especially in children. While many consider their pets as family members, there are situations where the human-animal relationship becomes strained, leading to pet abandonment. Various reasons, such as lack of time, financial hardship, unexpected litters, family dynamics, or changes in the household, can result in this unfortunate outcome.
However, the experience of abandoned animals on the streets varies greatly. Some are fortunate enough to find new loving homes, while others face a harsher fate. The challenges and outcomes these animals encounter serve as a poignant reminder of the importance of responsible pet ownership and the need to support animal welfare initiatives.
Waggy races! Dozens of disabled stray dogs use wheelchairs to take their daily walk at sanctuary in Thailand
The 27 dogs from a shelter in Chonburi, Thailand, appeared to be beaming from ear to ear as enjoyed a stroll with their wheel aides
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.
Thanks to mobility devices, the disabled dogs were able to get some much needed outside exercise in Chonburi, Thailand
During their exercise outing at the shelter, the disabled dogs were even joined by some strays who decided to join in with all the fun
The 27 dogs, who are mostly victims of accidents, are being nursed back to health at the shelter and particularly enjoy their daily outings
Shelter official Christopher Chidichimo said ‘It’s almost like they have no idea that they have a disability’ once the dogs are placed in the wheelchairs for the first time
The shelter, run by a foundation called The Man That Rescues Dogs, was set up by a Swede who moved to Chonburi in 2002 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.
‘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.
The shelter spends more than $1,300 (£946.42) each day to care for more than 600 dogs and feed 350 more that live on the streets.
The shelter, run by a foundation called The Man That Rescues Dogs, was set up by a Swede who moved to Chonburi in 2002
During their visit, the shelter founder was so dismayed by the poor condition of strays that he started caring for them after work
Sadly the future of the shelter is in doubt after the coronavirus pandemic led to a 40 per cent drop in donations and slashed the number of foreign visitors
The shelter spends more than $1,300 (£946.42) each day to care for more than 600 dogs and feed 350 more that live on the streets
The shelter takes care of a range of dogs from different backgrounds and even offers physiotherapy sessions
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.’
After suffering financially as a result of the pandemic the shelter has been forced to suspend a monthly campaign to spay and neuter strays
After their energetic walk the dogs enjoyed a boy of food after working up quite the appetite with their running around
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