Kikku/Mabel (Adopted!)

* * * UPDATE * * *

April 2013

Kikku (AKA Mabel) has been adopted by a loving family in Wisconsin, USA! 
She said goodbye to her foster mom, Patarin, and journeyed to Chicago this past week, arriving here on Wednesday, April 17. 

 

Mabel was welcomed to the United States by Dawn, myself, and Ayize at O'Hare Airport - a very happy day, despite the historical deluge of rain flooding our region. 
She quickly overcame her shyness at her intimidating surroundings (we received them in a cargo area amid large machinery and lots of noise) and bravely ventured out to greet us and her old pal Sasha. 

 She enjoyed being cuddled, kissed, and held - and even willingly accompanied us out into soaking rain, thunder, and lightning to do her business. 

After a quick check up by the vet, the girls stayed two nights with Dawn before setting off on a grand adventure to be united with their forever families.

Mabel fit right into her new home as if she had always lived there! 

The first thing she did was happily wag a big hello to her new mom and dad, Katrina and Chris - then she gave kisses to her new human sister, Hayden - and after that, she immediately befriended her new doggie brother, Charlie. 

The two never stopped happily playing the entire time Dawn was with them, and mom reports the love affair continues to this day.

We're so thrilled for Mabel - truly a match made in heaven!

Thank you to all who made this possible, from Patarin and the Magic 10 Club for pulling, transporting, vetting, and fostering Kikku/Mabel; to kind-hearted international supporters who generously donated to help cover her costs; to Mabel's adoring new family who welcomed her with open arms.

* * * * *

My name is Kikku.

It's hard to fathom how anyone could look at me and see a beefy soup, or a hunk of meat on a dinner plate. I thank my stars every day that fate had other plans in store for me.

As a matter of fact - fate stepped in for me not once, not twice - but three times. 
First, I was on a smuggling truck that was stopped by the Thai government. Most of my peers are not so lucky. I am very grateful that I was saved and brought to Khemmarat livestock center. However, for most of us, it's a dead-end "rescue" as there are not enough homes for us all. 
That's when fate stepped in again. Somehow, I managed to catch the eye of a kind lady who chose me and my new friends to be the lucky members of the Magic 10 Club. Before I knew it, I was in a roomy kennel of my own - something I never even knew existed! - and on my way to Bangkok.

Once there, I spent some time at a veterinary clinic where I was bathed, groomed, and treated with love and kindness, as they prepared me and my friends to go into foster care at Patarin's house.



At Pat's house, I've been living it up! Clothes, food, friends, love. What more could a girl ask for? I thought this was the end of my happy tale.

But it wasn't! Unbelievably, a third amazing twist of fate has presented itself, for Patarin tells me that I am going to America, to live with a home and family of my very own! 
I am sad to say goodbye to Pat, and to my pals Sasha and Mona (that's us playing above), and to my home country - but I need to be someplace where I can be safe and secure forever. And I'm so very excited to meet my forever people! I didn't even know such a thing existed...
My life has been short and filled with hardship. Who knew there was such a thing as a real paradise on earth?

Not long now. America, here I come! 
I can't wait...

I am a victim of the dog meat trade.

I grew up on the streets of Thailand, in a "survival of the fittest" climate, where I had to fend for food and avoid many dangers. 

One day, some mean men approached me and tossed a wire lasso over my head. They threw me in a small cage with many other dogs. It was cramped and I thought I would suffocate, as it was so overcrowded. The truck sat in the jungle for a couple of days before they made a run for the Vietnam border. During this time, I was not given food or water, and suffered in my cramped quarters. Again, I feared for my life - many dogs around me perished. 

Then - to my surprise - I was rescued by some caring individuals and government officials. I was taken from my cage and herded into a large dog kennel at the government-run Khemmarat livestock shelter. Although my life was marginally better once I was freed from that wire cage, we suffered from widespread disease and massive overcrowding. Food was scarce, we were practically one on top of the other, dog fights were frequent, and there was no medical attention available. Once again, I was surrounded by terrible suffering and watched as my fellow dogs died around me at a rapid rate. 

Luck once more intervened, when Patarin removed me from the shelter and took me to a veterinarian in Bangkok for medical care. After that, she took me under her wing and has been fostering me in her own home, where I finally get to eat proper food, and enjoy affection and cuddles, something I've hardly known in my difficult life. 

For the first time, I see there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. In my foster home with Patarin, I've been shown kindness and affection. It has been a glimpse into a life I never knew existed: one with a home and family to call my own, where I will never know fear again. 

It's a life I so desperately want now…but one which will be brand-new to me and often confusing.

 I have so much to learn about life as a pet dog. I know I can do it - I've made it this far already! - but please, won't you gently show me the ropes, and have patience with me when I make missteps sometimes, as I surely will? In return, I will repay you a thousandfold. 

I just need a fair chance at a life I could only dream of when I was that frightened dog, crammed into a crate, baking alive in the tropical heat, who had given up all hope.