Our first full day on Koh Lanta, we actually set an alarm for 7 am.  What on earth would cause us to do that?  One word:  DOGS!  (Ok, fine, maybe two words:  DOGS!  CATS!).

One of the cats at Kitty City.

Did you know you can visit Lanta Animal Welfare and help them walk their rescue dogs?  Turns out you can.  Check out all the dogs here.  We probably didn’t need to get up quite so early, but we wanted to be there right at 9 am when the doors opened to ensure there was a dog still in need of a walk.  (They only walk the dogs in the mornings and the afternoons, as it is just too hot during the middle part of the day and they only let you walk dogs that need a walk).

We got to walk this cute little girl named Boo — she was really eager to walk and had quite the personality.  She has already been adopted and is just waiting for someone to fly her to her new forever home in the United States.

Lisa and Boo.  Boo wasn’t very interested in having his photo taken.

Are you flying back to Europe or Canada or the US from Thailand soon?  If so, maybe you can help out a dog (or a cat) that has already been adopted.  Check out how to help a rescue animal reach their forever home here.

After we finished walking Boo, we spent time at the Kitty City playing with adorable cats and kittens.  I even had a tiny little kitten take a nap on my lap.  It was too young to travel or it might have wound up in my suitcase….

Robert and one of the many cats available for adoption.

We also got to tour the entire facility and learn about the work they do sterilizing the local stray cats and dogs and the horrible lives some of the dogs have experienced.  Our heartstrings were pulled and pulled hard, but we resisted the urge.  Although we did briefly consider changing our will to leave any leftover money (there won’t be much!) to Lanta Animal Welfare instead of our nephews…..

Just trying to stay cool on a hot day.

Not a bad way to spend our first day in Koh Lanta, not a bad way at all.  In fact, it was so good we repeated our visit.

One the second visit we got to walk Loki.  Poor Loki was abandoned when his owner left the island.  Loki was found with three friends, all of whom were starving to death.  Loki is the sweetest thing, but he had to sniff and pee on everything.  Loki is available for adoption…..Just saying…..Hint, hint…..

Robert and Loki on a walk.

We also got to walk Bubble, who is off to Germany in a few days.  Good thing too, because Bubble was a dog after my own heart.  Bubble did not like small children and refused to walk near any of them — I can totally emphasize with Bubble (small kids are loud and unpredictable and scary).  Poor Bubble was found in a garbage dump.

Lisa and Bubble on a walk.  (And, photos like this are why I wear skorts….).

And, we saved the best for the last.  There were PUPPIES!  Adorable, playful, chew-on-everything, barely able to stay awake but not willing to miss any excitement puppies.

Isn’t this little one absolutely adorable?

Robert getting puppy kisses.  And, don’t worry, that is just a toy by his leg.

If you are on Lanta, we wholeheartedly recommend spending some time at Lanta Animal Welfare.  You can do something good (they actually really appreciate the help walking the dogs) and feel good about it.