It is said, “an elephant never forgets.” It’s likely that Perry’s Megan Massey won’t be forgetting her experience with Loop Abroad this summer.
Massey is a pre-veterinary student who spent two weeks in Thailand performing volunteer work at the Animal Rescue Kingdom dog shelter and the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
She was part of a small team who voluntarily helped care for dogs, cats and elephants at the two shelters. Many of the animals at each facility have suffered abuse, neglect or suffer from injuries. Some of the canines can be adopted, but care is given at Animal Rescue Kingdom for the lifetime of those that cannot.
“I was so lucky to be accepted into the program,” explained Massey. “It was my first flight on an airplane and first time I have traveled anywhere outside of the southeastern U.S.”
Through Loop Abroad, Massey was a part of a group of students that first went to a rural area of the country where the Elephant Nature Park is located.
“I’ve worked around large animals like horses,” explained Massey, “but I love elephants.”
She even got to help care for one elephant that had an injury to its right rear foot after stepping on a land mine. Massey explained that despite being an endangered species, Asian elephants are often used as beasts of burden or other in settings where they aren’t really cared for and often suffer abuse. The Nature Park works to recover the abused animals and gives them a permanent, protected home.
During her second week, Massey got to help with dogs and cats at the Animal Rescue Kingdom.
“I got to assist with neutering procedures and even helped with injections and other surgical procedures,” she explained.
To help control the population of wild or feral dogs and cats, the facility goes out and tranquilizes them and performs neutering procedures. Once fully recovered, the animals are returned to the wild.
“I had a great experience!” exclaimed Massey, “I learned so much, and despite experiencing a little culture shock, I got valuable hands-on experience and learned about another culture as well.”
Massey said other highlights on her trip included being able to lie down on a tiger, eat some different food and getting to visit many historic sites including a temple made totally of gold.
Massey is the granddaughter of Jimmy and Ouida Smallwood and daughter of Jason and Kerri Chapman of Perry. She is about to start her sophomore year at Georgia Southwestern University in Americus after completing her freshman year at Truett-McConnell College. She said she’d hopes to be able to participate again with Loop Abroad, but is planning to help raise awareness and funds to help keep the rescue programs going.
Find out more about the exchange programs offered visit www.loopabroad.com.
HHJ News
