A few weeks ago, we got a text from a local friend about a dog who had been attacked. With a slash across his face and unable to walk properly, the little guy was in a bad way. He had swelling on his brain, we thought he might have brain damage and it was touch and go whether he'd make it...

But make it little Billy did. Despite having PTSD and having barely any vision, Billy soon came out of his shell and began to love life at the land. We wanted to give him the best life possible though so we decided the risks and costs of a big operation to restore his sight would be worth it.

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A big journey for two little dogs

While Koh Samui is idyllic, it doesn’t have the benefits of a big city. To get Billy the treatment required, he needed to travel to the mainland and visit a specialised vet hospital there. The operation was a complicated one and would cost a lot of money but to get him to a decent quality of life, Billy needed it. Thankfully, a kind donor offered to pay for Billy's operation so we didn't need to worry about diverting so much funds away from other dogs who needed it.

We packed him a little suitcase and he went to the mainland by pet taxi and boat with his friend Mario, who needed treatment on his leg. 

A big journey like this isn’t easy on the dogs and while we do everything possible to make them comfortable, it would be better for them overall if they didn’t have to make the trip.

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Tina's Hospital

Situations like these are why we are building our own dog hospital on Koh Samui. While having the option to send them for specialized treatment is great, it would be even better if the dogs didn’t need to travel for it. For many locals, the cost to send a dog to the mainland is too great and for the dogs, it’s a long and scary journey. 

With Tina’s Hospital, we’ll be able to treat our own dogs and the local dogs right here on Koh Samui, providing them with the care and treatment they need without delay.

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Billy's extended stay

While we knew Billy’s operation wouldn’t be straightforward, he actually had to stay an extra week because of some complications. Thankfully, the operation did work and he’s now able to see! One eye is a bit blurry but one is completely completely clear. Billy will need three different types of eyedrops every four hours, to prevent glaucoma, which is how McMuffin lost an eye.

It’s a lot of work but we’ll set up a rota and make sure Billy is taken care of! 

At the same time as Billy had some complications, so did little Mario who he'd travelled with. His leg became infected after his operation and the vets recommended that he stayed for a few days more to ensure he was healthy enough to travel. That luckily meant that both of them could travel home together and didn't need to do the trip alone.

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The reunion

For those of you who watch our stories and updates, you’ll know that Billy had taken little Sandy under his wing. Sandy was found all alone on the beach as a three month old puppy and he wouldn’t have survived if we hadn’t discovered him. 

Sandy looks almost identical to Billy and there was a clear friendship between them from the start. Even though Billy couldn’t see Sandy, they would play together, go on lovely strolls, and Billy showed him the lay of the land. 

So when Billy came back to Happy Doggo Land, with his vision restored, we were super excited about what he’d think about seeing his best friend. Thankfully, it went well and the pair were delighted to see each other again. Billy’s eyes immediately lit up and the two have been going on lovely walks together to get reacquainted. Billy has also spent the weekend catching up with his favourite people, enjoying lots of welcome home snacks, and wandering around his old stomping grounds, enjoying the view. 

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We keep seeing him looking into the distance as though he can’t believe he can now see it all which makes all the worry and cost well worth it.

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A new home

Now, that he’s feeling better and his eyes are on the mend, we can begin the search for Billy’s new home. Previously, we were only going to rehome him in Thailand as we didn’t think he could travel with swelling on his brain. But, we’ve snce found out that he’s completely cleared for any damage to his head and he can fly anywhere!

The world is your oyster now Billy!

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Watch the Youtube video on Billy (and Mario's) adventure!

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Are you interested in adopting Billy or another street dog? Check out our Adoptable Dogs.