By Mark McConville
HEART-WRENCHING pictures and video footage have captured the brave two-legged dog who has received royal attention.
The striking video and images show Tay-Tay the dog walking around on his two front legs after losing his hind legs and almost half of his body in a traffic accident.
Tay-Tay has been living in the dog shelter in Chonburi, Thailand, for the last four years and hasn’t been put up for adoption as he seems happy there.
The dog even captured the attention King Rama 10 after Watchdog Thailand, a foundation for dogs in need, posted a photo online.
“The King himself had taken Tay-Tay under patronage and donated dog food along with the royal gift of a wheelchair in the name of his royal pet dog Khun Fu,” said freelance journalist Julian Küng (32), from Zurich, Switzerland, who took the footage.
“His Majesty even sent a wheelchair-expert to examine the dog’s need for a walking aid. Dr. Gewalin Surakup came to the conclusion that the legs of Tay-Tay are strong enough so a wheelchair would be inappropriate for the dog.
“It’s amazing to see that the dog is still capable of eating, walking and even running when he wants to. He didn’t lost his curious nature neither.
“Every now and then he tries to run out of the shelter. Since he’s not able to turn quickly and escape the busy Chonburi traffic the owner Peerapha has to catch Tay-Tay and return him to the shelter.”
Tay-Tay remains in the care of dog shelter owner Peerapha Suwanich who also has around 40 dogs and 200 stray cats living in the shelter at any one time.
“Tay-Tay needs special attention since he’s not able to defecate in a controlled manner and so the owner has to clean a lot in the shelter,” added Julian.
“Tay-Tay is a self-willed dog, we planned to go out for a walk with him, but he didn’t felt like going out the day of shooting and even refused to follow his owner outside.”