Dr. Teri Weronko, a veterinarian from Snoqualmie Valley Animal Hospital in Fall City, Wash., spent the seven days in Thailand this fall as a volunteer for World Vets, an international veterinary aid organization.

Weronko worked in Thailand Nov. 13-20, helping care for animals stranded by flooding, which began in late July and has swamped more than two-thirds of the country’s provinces, causing chaos for the estimated 60,000 stray dogs in Bangkok.

Most of these dogs have no owners and must fend for themselves on a daily basis. As the flood waters have risen, stray and abandoned dogs have survived by congregating on higher ground according to World Vets staff who have responded to the disaster.

One area, now known by the locals as “dog island,” is home to more than 150 dogs. With no end in sight for the flooding, the problem grows dire as dog food and veterinary medical supply inventories run low.

Weronko and her World Vets team worked with local volunteers to rescue and move dogs to safer locations where they can be fed and treated. Vets have rescued more than 1000 dogs and delivered $20,000 in veterinary medical supplies.

“In addition to malnutrition, we are seeing a lot of severe skin problems and respiratory issues that require urgent care,” said Weronko.

She also treated injured animals as well as spayed and neutered dogs as part of a plan to curb Thailand dog overpopulation in the future.

World Vets is a non-government organization (NGO) providing veterinary aid, veterinary training and disaster relief around the globe. The organization’s primary focus is to make veterinary care accessible to the 99 percent of animals in developing countries that never see a veterinarian.

With more than 3,600 volunteers, we have projects in 36 countries on six continents. World Vets collaborates with animal advocacy groups, foreign governments, US and foreign military groups and veterinary professionals abroad.

For more information, visit http://www.worldvets.org/.