Leading animal welfare charity, Battersea, is supporting the launch of a new initiative set to address the growing cat population and support feline health in Thailand.
Soi Dog Foundation is today introducing its new catch, neuter, vaccinate, return (CNVR) programme for cats, which aims to improve the health and welfare of over 35,000 cats in Phuket and PhangNga.
Funded by a two-year grant from Battersea, the scheme will offer thousands of cats a full health check, neuter and vaccinations through two mobile veterinary teams travelling across both provinces. These efforts will not only help to prevent the birth of hundreds of thousands of unwanted cats, but will also support local communities by providing access to affordable vet care.
Having already established the largest stray animal CNVR programme of its kind in the world, this feline-focused scheme marks Soi Dog Foundation’s ambition to continue scaling up their feline welfare programme to improve the lives of stray and owned cats through rescue and medical care.
Dr Ala Izydorczyk, International Director of Animal Welfare at Soi Dog, said: “This partnership with Battersea marks an important milestone for feline welfare in Thailand. Our dedicated cat-focused mobile CNVR teams in Phuket and PhangNga will be the first of their kind, and we are so excited to launch this initiative. While Soi Dog Foundation has established a strong reputation for our canine CNVR programme, this Battersea-funded initiative allows us to expand our impact significantly for Thailand’s cats, addressing their unique welfare challenges. We are so thankful to Battersea for making this work possible.”
Through Battersea’s Global Programmes strategy, the charity offers strategic funding and support to a wide variety of animal welfare organisations across the globe to ensure more dogs and cats have a better future.
Julia Camara, Grants and Programmes Manager at Battersea, said: “At Battersea, our mission to be here for every dog and cat not only applies to the animals that come through our gates every year, but also helping millions more through working with organisations across the world. We are extremely proud to support Soi Dog Foundation’s work to improve the health and welfare of Thailand’s cat population; not only will this initiative help to reduce the free-roaming cat population, but it also supports communities by equipping them with the knowledge and resources to care for their cats and will continue to improve cat welfare through holistic care.”
To find out more information about Battersea’s Global Programmes work.
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About Battersea
• At Battersea we offer our love and expert care to dogs and cats who need us by rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals at our centres, and by sharing our knowledge and resources with other organisations around the world. We do this because we want to help every dog and cat, everywhere.
• In 2023 Battersea directly cared for 2,529 dogs and 2,450 cats at our three centres. We also helped thousands more through campaigning work, supporting other rescues and animal welfare advocates, and sharing knowledge and advice with pet owners.
• Battersea has three centres based in London; Old Windsor, Berkshire; and Brands Hatch, Kent.
• To find out more visit our website or follow Battersea on Twitter @battersea_ , Instagram @battersea, Facebook facebook.com/Battersea and TikTok @battersea.
About Soi Dog
• Established in 2003 by British couple John and Gill Dalley, and Margot Homburg Park in Phuket, Thailand, Soi Dog Foundation has grown to become Southeast Asia's largest organisation dedicated to improving the welfare of stray dogs and cats.
• As of April 2024, Soi Dog has neutered and vaccinated over 1.4 million dogs and cats since its founding, making their CNVR (Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return) programme the largest of its kind in the world, with more than 260,000 animals sterilised in 2024 alone.
• Soi Dog was the driving force behind Thailand's first-ever animal welfare legislation, the Prevention of Animal Cruelty and Provision of Animal Welfare Act introduced in 2014, which brought in new laws covering cruelty to animals. They were also instrumental in ending Thailand's dog meat trade and continues working to combat this trade in other Southeast Asian countries.
• The Gill Dalley Sanctuary in Phuket spans 12 acres and houses over 1,800 dogs and cats, providing them with the physical and emotional rehabilitation they need before adoption.
• The foundation's international adoption programme has helped thousands of rescued dogs and cats find loving forever homes around the world, while local adoption initiatives support animals finding homes within Thailand.
• To find out more about Soi Dog Foundation, visit their website, or follow them on social media: Facebook: facebook.com/SoiDogPageInEnglish, Instagram: @soidogfoundation, YouTube: @SoiDogFoundation, TikTok: @soidogfoundationofficial, LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/soidogfoundation