The King of Thailand ‘adopted’ 15 skeletal Great Danes after Thai authorities rescued them from starvation on an abandoned breeding farm.
The neglected dogs had been living at the house in Pathum Thani, central Thailand, before the owner fled several weeks ago.
With nobody to care for them, they were not properly fed and lost so much weight that their bones were poking through their fur when found by authorities.
A neglectful dog owner left 15 Great Danes to starve on a breeding farm in central Thailand. The pooches, pictured above, lost so much weight that their bones poked through their skin
The dogs’ owner fled the breeding farm several weeks ago and said she was unemployed so couldn’t afford to feed them. Volunteers were notified to the plight of the emaciated dogs and arrived on Sunday to rescue them. They are now recovering with Watchdog Thailand
The animals clearly hadn’t been fed in weeks and were suffering from severe malnutrition. One female dog and her two puppies died in a cage on Sunday before they could be rescued
Volunteers were alerted to the plight of the dogs and arrived at the home on Monday to rescue the animals and give them all a good meal.
They are now recovering with helpers from Watchdog Thailand and have even been ‘adopted’ by the country’s King Rama X, who heard about their treatment and ordered his household to fund their recovery.
A spokesman said: ‘We have received a Royal command from His Majesty The King. His Royal Highness has commanded a delegation to adopt the dogs at the Animal Welfare Division.’
Two Great Danes can be seen above inside a cage. When Watchdog Thailand found the pooches, they were all locked away after the owner closed down her breeding farm citing financial problems
Relatives living nearby said the property had been operated as a dog breeding farm for many years until the owner closed down due to financial problems and cruelly abandoned the animals.
She decided to report to the foundation as the Great Danes were living in such a terrible condition, causing one female dog and her two puppies to die in a cage on Sunday.
The volunteers arrived at the house on Monday around 2pm and found 15 skinny dogs locked in cages suffering from severe malnutrition.
Through their ordeal, the 15 malnourished Great Danes now have a royal friend. The King of Thailand, King Rama X, has pledged to ‘adopt’ the poor creatures, covering the cost of their treatment, food and ongoing care
The police who recovered the starving dogs, pictured above, will face punishment under the Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animal Act and a police investigation is underway
They also met housekeeper Nui, 50, who said that the dog breeder’s relative asked him to look after the property. He then agreed to cooperate in the rescue.
Veterinarian Kangwan Thirathamrong fed and treated the dogs before relocating them to the Livestock Development’s Animal Center to help their mental and physical recovery.
A vet has now treated and fed the dogs and they have been relocated to the Livestock Development’s Animal Center to aid their recovery
The vet said: ‘The owner claimed she didn’t hurt the dogs and still fed them but because she is unemployed and having financial problems they suffered.
‘All of the rescued dogs required further care for recovery in the animal centre. Then, we’ll see if the owner is financially ready to take them back but if not, we’ll look for any dog lovers who are willing to look after them.’
A spokesman from Watchdog Thailand said this morning that His Majesty the King has ordered his household to adopt all of the Great Danes at the Animal Welfare Division.
The monarch will cover the cover the cost of their treatment, food and ongoing care.
Meanwhile, the former owner faces punishment under the Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animal Act after police began investigating.