About
Saved Souls Animal Sanctuary was founded in 2010 by Gabriela Leonhard. She is Swiss and lives in Thailand. The shelter is located in Ban Kok Gnam in the province of Khon Kaen, in northeastern Thailand. The shelter was built on a 6 rai (9’600 m2) plot. On the 9th October 2017 we became an officially registered non profit organization called Saved Souls Foundation, registration number 1/2560.
Saved Souls Foundation
430 dogs and 91 cats have found a new home with us. Most of our dogs are rescued from the dog meat trade, accidents, abuse or neglect. Many disabled, blind and old dogs find a final home with us.
We believe in providing the best quality of life for all our animals. We cook fresh food for them everyday. Our swimming therapies are very important especially for the disabled dogs. All our dogs are sterilised and vaccinated. We also carry out regular sterilisation campaigns sterilising the dogs and cats living on the street. Only then can we prevent unwanted offspring.
Gabriela Leonhard - Founder
I believe every animal has a right to live! I have dedicated my life to saving as many souls as possible!
My love for animals started as a toddler. After I left Switzerland in 2007, a new phase of my life in working with animals began.
Thailand has many faces but the saddest are those of the animals.
From 2007 to 2010 I lived in Pattaya, where I gradually rescued abandoned, beaten, suffering animals and gave them a new loving home.
Arond 100 dogs were moved to Khon Kaen in 2010, where we started building the shelter.
Our Purpose & future
The future for SSF is to reduce the street animal population with adoptions, especially in Thailand.
We will also do this increasingly with sterilization projects. This is the only way to stop the propagation.
We are also aiming to work with the local government in the near future.
Only together will we be able to change the lives of street dogs and cats.
For us, every soul is valuable. We do everything we can to save lives. We are the voice for the animals and have to accompany them, support them, and show them that we are always there for them. We cannot save all the animals. But for those animals that we can save, the world will change.
The dog meat trade in Thailand
Gabriela Leonhard's experience.
Two pickups drove through the streets every day. I heard it from far way, because the driver announced with the microphone that dogs can be exchanged for plastic container. This announcement is still deeply rooted in my mind, because it was an absolute horror to be confronted every day with dogs being exchanged like this.
In 2013, the dog meat trade was banned. A moment for me not to give up, and fight for the dogs.
The first dogs we saved from the meat trade were two disabled dogs. we gradually brought dogs from the meat trade to us from various reception centers that were around 250 to 300 km away.
Many pregnant dogs found a new home with us, but unfortunately most of the puppies died from stress.
The problem has to be tackled at the root and the dogs have to be neutered. This is the only way to reduce the inventory. Unfortunately, dogs are still eaten in villages. This will always be the case.
By stopping the dog meat trade, Thailand has set an example and finally also introduced the Animal Welfare Act.
This photo is of the puppies i wanted to buy from a driver and rescue them from certain death. sadly he would not accept my offer. - Gabi Leonhard
At Saved Souls we take care!
