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Dear
When an emergency call comes in, our veterinarians don’t climb into an ambulance.
Usually, they climb onto motorcycles.
Often two or three people on one bike. Medical supplies strapped wherever they fit. Racing down uneven dirt roads - often at night - to reach an injured dog or cat as fast as possible.
It’s dangerous.
It’s unsustainable.
Far too often, it’s the only option we have here in Sangkhlaburi.
For months, we’ve been searching for a real solution: a dependable rescue vehicle - an animal ambulance that can safely navigate rough roads, cross streams, and reach animals in remote areas without putting lives at risk.
Our original plan was straightforward: purchase a small ambulance and fully equip it so our team could treat animals right where emergencies happen.
But reality intervened.
We simply haven’t been able to find a reliable ambulance at a price we can afford. So, we widened our search to covered trucks that could be converted into a proper mobile rescue and treatment unit.
The problem? These vehicles are workhorses - and nearly every one we’ve inspected has been pushed beyond its limits. A trusted mechanic has now examined more than ten trucks for us. Every single one was unsafe and unreliable.
We can’t afford a breakdown when a dog or cat’s life is on the line.
Leasing options exist, but the costs are far beyond what a small, volunteer-driven sanctuary like ours can responsibly manage.
So, the search continues - carefully, urgently - for the right vehicle. One we can afford. One we can convert. One that allows our veterinarians to work properly, carry essential medical equipment, and respond faster - without risking their lives or the lives of the animals they’re trying to save. We anticipate the all-inclusive cost will be approximately $12,500 (about £9,300) - this includes branding the vehicle similar to the artist’s rendering below. |
