Five years ago, a man’s brokenheartedness triggered a major transformation in how stray dogs are treated in Thailand. He is now recognized as the “hero of dogs” because of his relentless dedication to rescuing these furry creatures.

Scottish restaurateur, Michael J. Baines, made the decision to settle in Thailand and start his own restaurant business after exploring the beautiful country with his wife about 15 years ago. One day, while working, he came across a street dog that was extremely thin and hungry. This encounter proved to be life-changing for Baines, as the dog looked at him with pleading eyes seemingly saying, “Please help me! I’m hungry and in pain.” This incident had a profound and touching impact on the restaurateur.

One day, he encountered a skinny dog who had just given birth to her litter of puppies. Seeing the dog’s condition touched his heart and motivated him to start providing her with daily meals. This compassionate gesture sparked his passion for animal welfare, which continued to flourish over time. Witnessing dogs suffer or struggle became unbearable for him, and he felt compelled to intervene and offer assistance whenever possible.

One day, Baines had an awakening and decided to make a difference by helping the stray dogs in his community. He committed himself to providing them with food once a day and even devised three different routes with 17 stops to ensure they were all fed. During his daily commute, he made eight stops and fed around 30 dogs before heading off to work. After having breakfast at his restaurant, he packed more food and embarked on the second run, visiting eight or nine locations and feeding up to 35 hungry canines. As if that was not enough, he also fed six more dogs outside his restaurant and another four to five dogs on his way back home after a long day at work. Baines has undoubtedly become a guardian angel for these unfortunate street dogs.

Baines takes care of his beloved pets by providing them with a nutritious meal consisting of dry food, boiled rice, vegetable oil, and bouillon. He also adds a mixture of boiled chicken, pork, and fish to enhance the flavor. Furthermore, he ensures their health by adding a preventative powder every month that helps protect against parasites like worms, ticks, and fleas. Baines takes on most of the expenses himself or receives help from generous donors.

In 2003, Baines and his partner, Gill Dalley, created The Soi Dog Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on providing shelter for stray dogs. The foundation’s primary goal is to improve the well-being of cats and dogs in Asia, with the aim of improving the lives of both animals and people. Their ultimate objective is to create a society where there are no wandering animals and eradicate animal abuse entirely.

At the moment, the Soi Dog Foundation has a facility specifically designed for cats and an advanced medical center for dogs, making it the most comprehensive hospital in Asia and possibly in the world. This hospital is solely dedicated to providing superior care for stray dogs. For four years before her passing, Gill was focused on establishing and overseeing the construction of the dog hospital. She made a commitment to provide the best possible medical care for her beloved stray dogs, which she fulfilled through this remarkable facility.

It is with deep sadness to announce that Gill passed away due to cancer in 2017. Nonetheless, Baines remains committed to supporting the Soi Dog Foundation and their advocacy for street dogs and cats. Baines’ unwavering dedication has been acknowledged, and he was granted an MBE in recognition of his remarkable contributions to animal welfare in Southeast Asia during Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday celebration in 2020.