CHONBURI, Thailand (Reuters) – With tails wagging to a chorus of barks and yelps, more than two dozen dogs attached to wheels that support their disabled hind legs scramble along a rocky path, taking their daily exercise.<\/p>\n
Mostly victims of accidents, the 27 dogs are being nursed back to health at a shelter in Thailand\u2019s province of Chonburi southeast of the capital, Bangkok.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s almost like they have no idea that they have a disability and once you put them in the wheelchair for the first time, it\u2019s like there\u2019s no learning curve,\u201d said shelter official Christopher Chidichimo.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
But its future is now in doubt, after the coronavirus pandemic led to a 40% drop in donations and slashed the number of foreign visitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe donations are very important, and the volunteers and visitors are equally important, because they come and spread our message,\u201d said Chidichimo, who is a sponsorship coordinator at the shelter.<\/p>\n