About
Saved Souls Animal Sanctuary was founded in 2010 by Gabriela Leonhard. The shelter is located in Ban Kok Gnam, in Khon Kaen province, northeastern Thailand, and sits on a 6-rai (9,600 m²) plot of land. On October 9th, 2017, we officially became a registered non-profit organization under the name Saved Souls Foundation (registration number 1/2560).
We are dedicated to providing the highest quality of life for all our animals. Fresh meals are cooked daily, and swimming therapy plays an important role—especially for our disabled dogs.
All of our dogs are sterilized and vaccinated. In addition, we organize sterilization campaigns for street dogs and cats to help prevent unwanted litters and reduce suffering in the long term.
Gabriela Leonhard – Founder
I believe every animal has the right to live, and I’ve dedicated my life to saving as many souls as possible.
My love for animals began when I was a toddler. After leaving Switzerland in 2007, a new chapter of my life started—one devoted to helping animals in need.
Thailand has many faces, but the saddest are those of its suffering animals. From 2007 to 2010, I lived in Pattaya, where I gradually began rescuing abandoned, abused, and neglected animals, giving them safe and loving homes.
In 2010, around 100 dogs were moved to Khon Kaen, where we began building the shelter that would later become the Saved Souls Foundation.
Our Purpose & Future
At Saved Souls Foundation, our goal is to reduce the street animal population through adoptions—especially here in Thailand.
At Saved Souls, we also strive to give disabled dogs a loving home. Once they have recovered, we help them find new families through adoption, giving them a second chance at life while continuing to reduce the number of dogs on the streets.
We are expanding our sterilization projects, as we believe this is the most effective way to stop uncontrolled breeding and prevent further suffering. In the near future, we also aim to collaborate more closely with local government authorities.
Only by working together can we truly change the lives of street dogs and cats.
For us, every soul is precious. We do everything we can to save lives. We are the voice for the animals—standing by them, supporting them, and showing them that they are not alone. We may not be able to save them all, but for each one we do, their whole world changes.
The Dog Meat Trade in Thailand
Gabriela Leonhard’s Experience
Every day, two pickup trucks drove through the streets. I could hear them from far away — the driver announcing over a microphone that dogs could be exchanged for plastic containers. That sound is still deeply rooted in my memory; it was horrifying to witness dogs being traded like this.
In 2013, the dog meat trade was finally banned. That moment strengthened my resolve not to give up and to keep fighting for the dogs.
The first dogs we rescued from the meat trade were two disabled ones. Gradually, we brought more dogs to safety from various reception centers located about 250 to 300 kilometers away.
Many pregnant dogs found a new home with us, though sadly, most of their puppies did not survive due to stress.
The problem must be addressed at its root — by neutering dogs to reduce the population. Unfortunately, dog meat is still consumed in some villages, and that may never completely stop.
By banning the dog meat trade, Thailand has set an important example and has since introduced the Animal Welfare Act.
