By NICOLE VALICEK
ALTONA resident Joanna Sherwell saved the life of her Thailand born dog Sunny and now she is fighting to bring him home.
The self-confessed animal lover recently launched a fundraising campaign to bring him back to Australia.
After a year of depression and grief over the loss of her two dogs and a close friend, Joanna was offered a live-in role at the Elephant Nature Park Dogs Manager in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The park houses 380 rescued dogs on the property and in June Joanna was asked to manage its rescue dog program.
The animal conservationist is ready to come home and continue her work in animal conservation and youth development but “fell in love” with Sunny and is determined to bring him home.
“There has only been one known successful dog adoption from Thailand to Australia due to the costs and level of quarantine required.
“My adoption of Sunny will be the second,” she said.
Sunny was a stray dog who wandered into the elephant park.
He was de-sexed and vaccinated and let free to either stay at the park or wander out of the gate.
“I fell in love with Sunny I realised I had found my dog, that to leave him behind and return to Australia myself would break my heart and his as well.”
Joanna has contributed all of her saving and has taken out a loan to help get her four legged companion home to Australia with her.
Her online fundraising project Pozible has raised $3200 but Joanna and Sunny need more to make the adoption a reality.
“The biggest barrier in people adopting dogs from Thailand to Australia is the expense, so the money we’ve raised will be a huge help in that.”
“I’m certain with Australia’s pet loving community we can get there.”
To help bring Sunny home visit www.pozible.com/project/173012.
