Help keep Happy Tails Dog & Cat Sanctuary alive!

Help Keep Our Sanctuary Alive

Today, around 50 dogs and 33 cats call Happy Tails their home. Each of them has come from a different background—many were rescued from dangerous conditions, mistreated, abandoned, left on the streets sick and injured, or even dumped in front of the sanctuary. At Happy Tails, they find safety, love, and the care they desperately need. But right now, the sanctuary is facing an urgent financial crisis, and we need your help to keep this safe haven running.

The Struggles and Adventures of Sanctuary Life

Caring for the animals at the sanctuary is always an adventure. The rainy season hit hard this year, destroying the sand road leading to the sanctuary with massive holes. It had to be repaired multiple times just to stay accessible. There were also a few terrifying snake encounters—the most intense being a king cobra that some of the brave dogs managed to fight off.

The sanctuary's 21-year-old truck, with 370,000 km on it, has been failing for months. Every time one issue is fixed, another appears. It still moves, but only 50% of the time. Repairs have been made on the smallest budget possible, but some problems now seem beyond fixing. Buying a second-hand vehicle in Thailand is expensive—at least 350,000 THB (€9,000–10,000) would be needed for a 10-year-old replacement, which is far beyond the sanctuary’s means.

Vet costs are also climbing again—two epileptic dogs need medication, Teng Mo requires heart treatment, and all senior dogs need vitamins and liver support. On top of that, nearly 100 animals, including street dogs, must receive deworming and anti-parasite treatments.

Recently, donated food had to be stopped because it was arriving in poor condition, making several animals sick with diarrhoea. As a result, all meals are now cooked from scratch, adding to both the workload and expenses.

Through the Struggles, There Have Been Beautiful Successes

Despite everything, this past year has brought some incredible moments:

More and more volunteers are returning, becoming like family to the animals and to Francoise. This growing community is something very special, and for that, we are deeply grateful.

A Lifetime of Dedication

For over 20 years, Francoise has dedicated her entire life to caring for Thailand’s most vulnerable animals. With no government funding and no steady financial support, she has fought tirelessly to keep Happy Tails running, making endless sacrifices to ensure every animal receives the care they deserve. Every single donation goes directly to the animals—there are no admin fees, no middlemen—just food, medicine, and safety for those who need it most.

Francoise works around the clock, 24/7, not only caring for the animals but also making sure volunteers are happy, safe, and supported. She takes little to no time for herself, putting everything she has into keeping Happy Tails alive. As volunteers, we want to do everything we can to help ease at least one of her burdens—making sure money is never the reason these animals go without.

Honouring Ryan’s Memory

This year, the sanctuary suffered a heartbreaking loss. Ryan, one of our incredible volunteers, tragically passed away in a motorbike accident. He was amazing with the animals and touched the hearts of every volunteer lucky enough to meet and work with him, a true asset to our sanctuary. His kindness, dedication, and love for the sanctuary will never be forgotten. While this loss has left Francoise and all of us in deep pain, we are continuing to fight for Happy Tails—both for the animals and in Ryan’s memory. His presence will always be felt here, and we will miss him forever.

The Most Urgent Need: Our Annual Rent

By April 1st, we need to raise 170,000 THB (€4,800) to cover the annual rent of the sanctuary and the volunteer house:

This is a crucial payment—without it, Happy Tails will not be able to continue operating.

The Sanctuary Desperately Needs a New Truck

In addition to rent, securing a new truck is one of the most urgent needs. The current truck is barely functioning, making it increasingly difficult to transport sick and injured animals to the vet. A reliable vehicle is crucial for the sanctuary to continue providing lifesaving care.

How Your Donations Will Help

This fundraiser aims to raise £15,000 to cover:

✔️ The annual rent to secure the sanctuary

✔️ A replacement truck for transporting animals

✔️ Food and medicine for nearly 100 animals

✔️ Ongoing vet treatments for those in need

We need to secure this safe haven so these animals can continue living happy, healthy lives. Please donate if you can, share this fundraiser, and help us reach our goal—every bit of support makes a difference!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts! ❤️