Kriengkai Thatwakorn, 43, a volunteer dog groomer, trims a stray dog at a shelter in Chonburi province, Thailand, June 4, 2020. — Reuters pic
A domestic travel ban to contain the novel coronavirus was lifted recently following Thailand’s success in keeping infections under control, giving Kriengkai a chance to tackle a backlog of hundreds of haircuts in each dog shelter he visits. “The group of dogs before we faced Covid-19 were the ones that are super unfriendly but in need of extreme grooming. No one dares to touch them,” he added, speaking over dozens of barking canines.Thailand is a nation of dog-lovers but its urban stray population can get out of control without resources to sterilise or care for them properly.
He has no regrets about quitting his family business and now relies on donations and support from friends and his social media followers.