Arthur, a graphic designer from San Francisco, arrived in Chiang Mai after an 18 month stay in Germany. A poster advertising the Chiang Mai University Language Institute’s Cultural Exchange Programme caught his eye, and confirmed his decision to stay in Chiang Mai, a town he’d quickly grown to love.

Arthur has always adored dogs and cats, and was already providing treats and cuddles for street dogs around town whenever he could, so the opportunity to work with Lanna Dog Rescue suited him perfectly. Working with elephants was briefly mentioned, but the thought of shovelling up tons of elephant dung…NOT!

Lanna Dog Rescue organises large-scale free sterilisations across Chiang Mai for stray dogs and cats. Anyone can bring them in for treatment, which is given by qualified personnel with regard to high standards of hygiene and anaesthesia. Volunteers regularly collect temple dogs and bring them in for this minor but essential operation. The aim of the mass sterilisations is to lower the number of stray dogs and cats in Chiang Mai without resorting to mass killings. Participants in the Chiang Mai University Cultural Exchange Programme are more than welcome to join in and help.

Lanna Dog Rescue mans booths at major events such as the recent Flower Festival in order to raise funds and increase local awareness of this persistent doggy problem. Importantly, the organisation is also working with local government officials to find solutions. Hopefully, this cooperation will result in Lanna Dog Rescue becoming a government-sponsored organisation, thus solving funding and other logistical problems.

As a result of his joining the Chiang Mai University Language Institute’s Cultural Exchange Programme, Arthur is also making himself useful at another Chiang Mai dog shelter, Animal Rescue Kingdom, (ARK) which works closely with Lanna Dog Rescue and cares for a large number of stray or injured street and temple dogs. He feeds, cleans and baths his charges once a week at ARK, and his duties at Lanna Dog Rescue include helping vets to clean wounds, helping out at events and, most importantly, playing with and socialising the dogs, all of whom love him!

Apart from doing all he can to help, his concern is the mentality that leads to dogs needing these services. The motto, ‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas’, (including birthdays or any other festival), holds very true for this compassionate guy, who feels that education about the true meaning of keeping a pet and caring for it is the way forward.

Tim Gorski spoke about the illegal elephant trade in last night's lecture.  He's wild and he's been risking his life for animal rights for many years.  He's been busy living a James Bondian existence travelling all over the world making movies and fighting evil.  He's fought for whales in Antarctica and Mustangs in the American West.

For his latest work, he has been posing as an elephant buying agent, and following elephants from collecting them in the wild to the breaking and the selling and finally to the working life.  He's been working closely with Lek at Elephant Nature Park in tracking elephants and documenting their treatment.  And raising peoples' awareness of this issue.

Last night he showed clips from his documentaries and discussed how we can make a difference for these animals.  Particularly graphic was the scenes covering the breaking of the elephants' spirits.  Nothing deserves to be struck with a crowbar...  Thanks Tim, for sharing your research with us and inspiring us with your passion and adventures.  Good luck on your journey.