Second Half of Elephant Nature Park,
Chiang Mai, Thailand

I have so much respect for the people who try to save animals. Not only are the elephants rescued, but the park also cares for large numbers of dogs, cats, cows, and water buffalo.

Dogs at the Elephant Nature Park

Some dogs roam free, while others are confined to outside pens on a hill. Smaller dogs are kept in a separate area. Since there isn't a thriving adoption program, this is their permanent home. While the pens are clean, the energy of the confined area felt much more like a shelter, in contrast to the main elephant area where dogs roam freely, perform their jobs, and are in sync in a pack.

In the main area, with no chain-linked fences, approximately 30 dogs run alongside elephants, water buffalo, and mingle with people, and serve a purpose. I witnessed no fights there. However, in the confined pens on the hill, about five fights broke out in 60 minutes. The park does the best they can to save all the rescued animals with the resources they have.

The free-roaming dogs each had self-assigned duties—some guarded the workers' food area, others scanned the perimeter at night, and some even guarded the elephants. Seeing so many dogs with a pack-assigned job was beautiful. Unfortunately, with limited space, an animal (including humans) can become agitated and aggressive, which re-triggers and adds to their traumas, slowing or stopping their healing. This experience, along with COVID and self-reflection, reinforced a life lesson: we all need interaction, space, help, and love to heal from trials and traumas.

Animal Jobs and Purposes

In the small dog rescue area, purebred dogs intently associated with their breed. A French Bulldog repeated, "I’m a Frenchie, I’m cute, pet me," and a set of hairless dogs with curly whiskers insisted their breed made them bite for attention. Multi-breed dogs focused on the softness of their fur, asking to be petted.

I communicated with the hairless dogs, helping them realize that biting was a learned behavior from their circumstances, not their breed. This resulted in them no longer biting; they became calm and waited their turn for attention, which was unprecedented for visitors. They then told me that the high energy of visitors—talking in high voices—was disturbing to these small dogs and hindered their healing, as they matched human energy and would jump and bite with the visitors instead of being calm like the other freely roaming dogs.

Cats

The rescued cats reside outside in well-cared-for, fenced areas with covered beds, sunshine, trees, and a sandbox. It was peaceful and warming to see all the cats getting along, which challenges the Western theory that cats must be kept separated. Rescued from various situations (roaming streets, abuse, injuries), they heal each other by residing together, becoming happier and healthier as a result.

Animals innately help one another heal, it is part of nature’s makeup. Even after a fight, they are supported by their pack until they become a threat. This applies to both domesticated and wild animals. Their health greatly improves with companionship, even across species. It is an honorable trait of the animal community that they will lay down their lives for their animal companion or human. Most well-loved dogs, cats, and horses I work with take pride in helping their owner.

Message About Euthanasia from an Ailing Dog

A visitor and volunteer, moved by concern for an ailing dog who lay motionless, silent, and occasionally struggled to breathe, gently questioned whether euthanasia might be appropriate—especially given Thailand’s predominantly Buddhist beliefs surrounding death and suffering.

I communicated with the dog about its views on pain and death. The dog stated, "How can you, as a human being, think that you are God? The very act of euthanasia complicates our spiritual end-of-life process. I am happy here despite my body’s current state. I am not in pain and suffering. I am here with my friends and well cared for, and I don’t want to die by euthanasia.”

Working with animals in this process has shown me that many domesticated animals choose euthanasia out of convenience and concern for their owner. They do not want their owner to suffer while their body goes through a messy or inconvenient "painful process," preferring to make adjustments in spirit rather than cause disruption in life.

I have spoken to animals both while dying and after death (while in spirit). They all process their departure by going in and out of the body towards the end of their bodily life. The strange sounds, jerking, and crying out are part of the spirit recognizing it is not the body and preparing to leave the body. Animals tell me they are mostly NOT in pain during this process (usually a rating of 2 or 3, if any, out of 10 (extremely painful)); pain is a physical state, not a state of the spirit. They spend the time in their body with little to no pain, focusing on their spiritual connection.

Animals view dying as a part of life and do not fear it like humans do. They live in the present and are connected to unconditional love as a whole. Even animals with ailments that prevent movement say they are mostly happy being with others and are not in pain unless they move and they adjust for the pain when they do move. Domesticated animals often match their human’s emotions, which is when they feel more pain, suffering, and depression.

Ultimately, euthanasia is a personal preference. If the owner/pet parent is greatly distressed by the process—concerned about pain, suffering, inconvenience, or the mess—the animal will usually choose to enter the spirit world by euthanasia. Animals are able to adjust to this kind of departure.

Being at The Elephant Nature Park, Thailand

Time seemed to stop and there was simply a true connection into the animal world. I had constant communication with all of the animals there and laughed a lot with all the funny messages they had to share as well as shed tears with other messages that they felt comfortable sharing with me. This was a trip that the elephants and animal kingdom called me on for my self-growth, my reconnecting with the animal kingdom and feeling at one with them, feeling the strength and absolute undeniable beauty that each animal had to share with me in their own way. I was able to also hold space for many at the park to allow them to heal and remember that they were not the trauma they had been through, that they were the beautiful soul in that incredible animal body that they inhabited no matter their handicap.

So much รัก (rak - love).