20 starving cats rescued from locked room in Nonthaburi
Yesterday, January 26, a team from a Thai animal welfare foundation rescued 20 cats and one dog left without food or water for six days in a rented room in Nonthaburi, after the tenants were locked out due to unpaid rent.
The operation was led by Dr Pornthipha Supattanukul, who heads the Phu Hai Yom Jai Pen Sook Foundation. She and over 10 staff members visited a rental property on Pracharat Road in Suan Yai subdistrict, Mueang district, following a complaint filed through the foundation’s Facebook page.
The incident began when 69 year old Piak and her adult son, Tang, fell behind on rent for their 2,000 baht-a-month room. After three months of non-payment, the property owner padlocked the room on January 20, unaware that 20 cats and one dog were still inside.
Piak had been staying outside the room since, surrounded by piles of belongings and a strong stench from animal waste. Her son continued to sell snacks from a pushcart during the day, but struggled to afford food and care for the growing number of animals.
The landlord stated the original agreement allowed only three pets, but the tenants had let the animals breed freely. After discussions, the landlord agreed to forgive nearly 10,000 baht in unpaid rent and utility bills if the tenants removed the animals and belongings by the end of the day, calling it a charitable act.
Dr Pornthipha decided to take in all 20 cats, transporting them to the foundation’s shelter for recovery. Many of the animals were found extremely malnourished, and staff immediately placed them in cages to begin urgent veterinary care.
Dailynews reported that the rescue left both mother and son in tears as they expressed heartfelt thanks.
The Phu Hai Yom Jai Pen Sook Foundation has previously assisted several animal rescue cases, including a stray dog injured in Bangkok, a legless dog in Samut Prakan, a blind cat, and even a wild boar swept away during floods in Hat Yai. Many of these animals remain in the foundation’s care.
As for Piak and her son, Dr Pornthipha stated that if they still have nowhere to go or cannot care for the animals, the foundation is willing to house them temporarily in air-conditioned accommodation on site, where they can remain close to the cats they raised.
In a separate cat rescue, an orange cat stuck more than 10 metres above ground on a concrete bridge pillar in Samut Prakan was safely rescued after locals heard it meowing for two days. Officers temporarily closed off the traffic lane and used the cherry picker to reach the feline.
