For more than 20 years, Soi Dog Foundation has been creating lasting change for stray dogs and cats across Asia. What began as a small grassroots effort in Phuket has grown into one of the region’s leading animal welfare organizations, helping millions of animals through rescue, sterilization, vaccination, advocacy, and education.
We’re incredibly grateful to the Soi Dog team for taking the time to share more about their mission, the realities facing stray animals across Southeast Asia, and the work they continue to do every single day to create a better future for dogs and cats in need.
What Is Soi Dog Foundation All About?
At its heart, Soi Dog Foundation exists to improve the lives of stray dogs and cats across Southeast Asia through both immediate rescue efforts and long-term systemic change.
Founded in 2003 by Gill and John Dalley alongside Margot Homburg Park, the organization has grown into one of Asia’s largest animal welfare nonprofits.
One of the foundation’s biggest focuses is humane population management through its CNVR programme (Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return), which has become the largest programme of its kind in the world.
As of April 2026, Soi Dog has sterilized and vaccinated more than 1.7 million dogs and cats.
The organization explains that this work not only helps reduce suffering and overpopulation but also improves public health and creates safer communities for both animals and people.
But Soi Dog’s work extends far beyond sterilization. The organization has also played a major role in shaping animal welfare legislation in Thailand and has become internationally recognized for its efforts to combat the dog and cat meat trade across Southeast Asia.
“What makes Soi Dog unique is its combination of large-scale, hands-on intervention with systemic change, pairing medical programmes and sheltering with legal reform and international advocacy.”
What Are the Biggest Challenges Facing Soi Dog Foundation?
Like many rescues and nonprofits, rising operational costs continue to present major challenges.
According to the Soi Dog team, fuel prices alone have increased by more than 50%, directly impacting the ability of mobile CNVR teams to travel throughout Thailand. At the same time, the costs of food, medicine, vaccines, and essential supplies continue climbing.
“That means every rescue, treatment, vaccination, and sterilisation effort now costs significantly more than before.”
Still, the organization emphasizes that public support creates an immediate and meaningful impact.
Donations help fund:
- Urgent rescue calls
- Life-saving medical care
- Food and enrichment
- Sterilization and vaccination programmes
- Continued work combating the dog and cat meat trade across Asia
Readers can also help by:
- Sharing Soi Dog on social media
- Sponsoring an animal
- Adopting
- Visiting or volunteering in Phuket
“Every action, from a donation to a single share, plays a crucial part in improving the lives of stray animals.”
What Are Some of Soi Dog’s Biggest Accomplishments?
Over the past two decades, Soi Dog has helped create major change throughout the region.
One of the organization’s proudest milestones was helping end Thailand’s dog meat trade in 2014. Since then, the foundation has expanded its work into neighboring countries where the trade still exists, particularly Vietnam.
More recently, Soi Dog established a landmark partnership with the Vietnamese government in Hanoi aimed at helping eradicate the trade there as well.
At the same time, the organization’s CNVR programme has grown into the largest of its kind in the world.
“What started as a small local effort has grown into a movement creating real, lasting change across the region.”
The team also says they are proud of the global awareness that has grown around the realities facing stray animals in Asia.
“We’ve helped raise awareness globally about the realities street animals face in Asia, creating a stronger international community of supporters, adopters, and advocates.”
