Mark Jeffries admits he had no idea what was in store for him when he arrived in Koh Lanta to begin his volunteer placement at Lanta Animal Welfare. It’s fair to say, however, that what transpired certainly would not have been in his thinking.
Within just a few weeks, he found himself as part of a skeleton Covid-19 crew, one of just three volunteers who opted to ride out the pandemic in Thailand rather than return to their home country.
The staff and volunteers were split into two teams, working separate six-hour shifts, banned from socialising together, and with handover meetings taking place on either side of a wall, with face masks a constant reminder of the growing Coronavirus threat.
It was anything but normal, as Mark explains…
“Upon arrival at LAW I was very unsure what to expect and what exactly I’d be up against, but as an animal lover I was looking forward to the task ahead.
“After only a few hours of being here I think I fell in love with nearly all the dogs and was excited for what lay ahead.
“Covid-19 clearly changed things, but it can’t change the way I feel about my time at LAW.
“I couldn’t think of a more rewarding experience, every day developing a stronger bond with the animals, along with living in paradise on a Thai island with other like minded people.
“Volunteering was something that had never really crossed my mind, but after a few years of travelling I didn’t feel quite ready to go home, and I wanted to experience something new and exciting.
“I wasn’t sure if I would be well out of my comfort zone, particularly having had no experience working with animals before, but it was another challenge for me and another life experience I wanted to gain.”
Mark also gained something else very special from his time at LAW… a new girl in his life.
By his own admission, he loved all the dogs, but one in particular captured his heart, little Poppy, who arrived at the centre homeless and helpless with her two siblings, and four months later was on her way to a new life in Edinburgh, Scotland.
She is a permanent reminder of Mark’s time in Thailand, and he insists he would not hesitate in one day returning.
“It’s definitely something I hope to do again,” he adds. “I would recommend it to anyone who is considering volunteering at LAW.
“Just do it, you won’t be disappointed… you might even come out of it with a new furry best friend like I did and take them home with you!”
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