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LANTA ANIMAL WELFARE
Lanta Animal Welfare was founded in 2005 by Junie Kovacs. Her mission was to end the suffering of sick, injured and homeless animals on Koh Lanta. There is no other animal clinic on the island than Lanta Animal Welfare. When previously a dog or cat was injured or sick and no one felt responsible or had money, the poor animal was left to its fate.
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The story of Rio
During our visit to Lanta Animal Welfare we were introduced to Rio, a dog that immediately steals your heart when you would see him. It was a miracle he was still alive. This is his story: Rio lived with 3 brothers and sisters in a remote house in the jungle, here the dogs had a good life…Until one day their caretakers left. The dogs faithfully waited in the hope that their caretakers would come home again. They waited for weeks but nobody came back. All that time they had nothing to eat. The picture of Rio says it all. (You can enlarge the picture of Rio by clicking on it).
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Unfortunately, all kinds of complications have arisen in Rio, so Lanta Welfare had Rio examined in a special hospital outside Koh Lanta. There it was discovered that Rio had heart problems and because Rio had had no food for a long time, his stomach was probably also affected, so he could only tolerate special food.
Junie Kovacs with Rio | Image: ThailandMagazine.com
When we visited Lanta Animal Welfare, Junie personally invited us to go to the infirmary. Here Rio was under the watchful eye of a volunteer who always stayed with him. Rio received medicine for his heart and special food for his sensitive stomach. We also went along for a short walk together with Rio.
After we got back home in the Netherlands we kept in touch with Junie because we wanted to know how Rio was doing. Unfortunately after a few weeks we got the sad news that Rio had gone to “doggy heaven”. Luckily Rio was surrounded in the last days of his life with good care and a lot of love and cuddles.
Rio | Image: ThailandMagazine.com
Is Lanta Animal Welfare a sad place?
No, fortunately not, there are a lot of success stories! The reason we tell about Rio is that we want everyone to know what an important work is done at Lanta Animal Welfare. We hope that you will pay us a visit and make a donation when possible.
At Lanta Animal Welfare there are many happy dogs and cats, most of them after good care in good health and eventually find a nice new home. Lanta Animal Welfare is therefore also great to visit with children. The really sick animals like Rio are cared for behind the scenes in the infirmary.
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Kitty City
In Kitty City you can cuddle and cuddle with cats, if they feel like it. Because in Kitty City the cats are the boss, of course. The cats have nice places to laze and play.
Free guided tour
As a visitor, you get a free guided tour of the dog and cat enclosure and information about the animals. You will find out how the animals ended up at Lanta Animal Welfare and what makes them special. Where they sleep, eat and are cared for. At the time we were there, 44 cats and 45 dogs were taken care of. At Kitty City you can also buy something to eat and drink and souvenirs in the small restaurant and shop.
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Besides taking care of injured animals, Lanta Animal Welfare tries to reduce the number of unwanted puppies and kittens by sterilizing street dogs and cats. The animals are also vaccinated against rabies and then tagged. Employees search for animals on a daily basis. More and more islanders also know where to find Lanta Animal Welfare when something is wrong with their pet. In addition, children at Koh Lanta receive information about the care and needs of animals at school. So a lot of good work!
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7 things you can do!
Lanta Animal Welfare is a non-profit organization and completely dependent on donations, there is a lot of work with volunteers and help in all kinds of forms is more than desired!
Who let the dogs out? And other chores on location
You can take a walk on the beach with a dog or help in many other ways by doing chores like cleaning, animal washing, gardening and much more! Speak to one of the staff on the spot if you would like to do this for more information!
Sponsor a dog or cat
By transferring money on a monthly base, you can sponsor a dog or cat. As a sponsor you will be regularly informed about your sponsored animal. Of course you can also make a one-time donation. This can be done on the spot or via this link.
Become a flight attendant
Become a flight attendant for a dog or cat and bring them to their new (forever) home by taking the animal with them on the plane. It will cost you nothing and all papers will be arranged. Here you will find more information.
Cooking lessons & making cocktails
When you take one of the cozy cooking classes at Time For lime, part of the proceeds goes to Lanta Animal Welfare. Time for Lime is also from Junie Kovacs, the founder of Lanta Animal Welfare. We also followed a cooking course here and found it super fun! Because of this we learned a lot of delicious recipes to prepare!
Read here more about the cooking courses and our experience at Time for Lime!
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Using you as a long term volunteer
Long term volunteer means that you will stay for at least one month to help as a volunteer at Lanta Animal Welfare. You can volunteer in different ways. However, you are expected to be able to work hard and of course love animals and taking care of them. Here you will find more information.
Buy something nice or tasty
Buy something nice in the shop in Kitty City, like clothes, souvenirs or something tasty in the Kitty Café. The entire proceeds will go to the care of the animals in Lanta Welfare. No animal products are used in the food or drinks that are sold here.
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Adopt a dog or cat
This option is at the end of this list for a reason, adopting a dog or cat is of course not something you just do when you are on holiday. It’s something to think about, It’s difficult not to follow your heart when you see all the lovely dogs and cats. Especially when you hear what some animals have been through. But if you are sure you have time and space to give lots of love and cuddles, Lanta Animal Welfare is the place to be! You will be helped with arranging all the formalities, so it doesn’t have to be a complicated process to adopt a dog or cat. Read how it works here.
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Things to do at Koh Lanta!
Great that you are considering to go to Animal Welfare on Koh Lanta! In the infoBox below you will find the address details, contact details and a map of the island. Of course there are a lot of other fun things to do on Koh Lanta! (After you’ve been to Lanta Animal Welfare :)). We have picked out a number of nice locations for you, such as well appreciated accommodations, restaurants, bars, beautiful beaches and other attractions that we think you shouldn’t miss during your stay at Koh Lanta!
Information Lanta Animal Welfare
Address: 629 Moo.2, Koh Lanta, Krabi, Thailand, 81150
Tel: +66 (0)843 044 331
Open from: 9.00 till 17.00
Website: https://lantaanimalwelfare.com/
Sleeping on Koh Lanta
On Koh Lanta you can make sleeping as cheap or expensive as you want. The range of accommodations is very diverse. From delicious luxury to back to basic in a nice small bungalow, the choice is yours! In general, the price-quality ratio on Koh Lanta is better than on the surrounding islands.
This is our selection of the best places to sleep on Koh Lanta:
- The best luxury resorts on Koh Lanta
- The beste middle class hotels on Koh Lanta
- The best cheap places to sleep on Koh Lanta
Also read our reviews of:
Good dining at Koh Lanta
- Yang Garden TIP
This is without a doubt our favourite restaurant on the island! Everything’s right here! Of course the food is great but also the location and staff get a big 10/10 from us! Do it! - Drunken Sailors
Near one of the most beautiful beaches of Koh Lanta (Kantiang) lies this gem! You can enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner here. Already eaten? The cocktails are also great here, just ask those swaying sailors who walk out the door… - The Reggae Bar TIP
All the way to the north of Koh Lanta and not far from the village of Saladan you can enjoy great dishes and powerful cocktails in your own private (tree) hut on a rocky beach! This special location belongs to the beautiful Avani+ Koh Lanta Resort. - Rareview Coffee & Restaurant TIP
Not only the dishes and drinks are here to savour, also the view is very appetizing! The team at this restaurant in Koh Lanta’s Old Town is super friendly and will do everything to make sure you have a great time! - Global Local – Home of the serious burger
They take the hamburger seriously here, very seriously! Taste it yourself! - Pad Thai Rock n Roll
Dance for joy as you taste the toad thai or other dishes here! Located just before Kantiang Bay in the south of Koh Lanta. - Di Farina Pizza
The best pizza of Koh Lanta can be found in Old Town, unfortunately closed in low season but if you are here in the months November to May then you know where to go!
If you want to know more about the above restaurants read our article about the best restaurants on Koh Lanta.
Going out on Koh Lanta
There are a number of not-to-be-missed bars on Koh Lanta where you can socialize and have a drink. Do you only want the best of the best? Then read our article about the nicest bars on Koh Lanta.
- Majestic Bar Koh Lanta
There are a number of not-to-be-missed bars on Koh Lanta where you can socialize and have a drink. Do you only want the best of the best? Then read our article about the nicest bars on Koh Lanta. - Why Not Bar
A popular bar at perhaps the most beautiful beach in Koh Lanta. In the bay of Kantiang you come to relax and enjoy the fire shows that are held here! - The Reggae Bar
Not far from Saladan Village and situated on the grounds of a beautiful luxury resort you can drink special cocktails in an equally special setting… - Rasta Baby Bar
On Klong Nin Beach there is relaxed reggae and jungle playing all evening. The friendly family at this bar will make sure you have a great night, yah man! - Big Bang Bar
Attention beer lovers! On the beach of Klong Nin you can enjoy countless different craft beers.Let yourself be seduced by names like Coconut Cream and imagine yourself on a tropical island while taking your first sip…wait, you’re already on a tropical island! Cheers! - Freedom Bar
A beautiful beach, good music, nice people and nice drinks. Feel happy and free because here on Klong Khong Beach it is wonderful to stay! - Funky Monkey
Singing talent wanted! At the Funky Monkey near Long Beach you can grab prizes if you make the most of your singing talent. Who knows, you might get a record deal and become a famous pop star in Thailand, but of course you can also go for the free drinks! - Pangea Beach Bar
If the Funky Monkey (tip above) is a place for nightingales, then this bar is the ultimate place for night owls! From Techno to Deep House you’ll find it at Long Beach. - Cheeky Monkey Bar
If the Funky Monkey (tip above) is a place for nightingales, then this bar is the ultimate place for night owls! From Techno to Deep House you’ll find it at Long Beach.
Koh Lanta is a lovely island to explore by scooter or car. You bypass the high taxi prices and you can visit nice places at your leisure. We have a very good experience with Lanta Sky. You can rent a scooter or car from them that they bring and pick up again when it suits you best. If you want to rent a car you have to leave your passport, that is Koh Lanta everywhere. Renting a scooter without your passport is often possible when you pay a few thousand baht deposit. Are you going to Mu Koh Lanta National Park? Then ask for a powerful scooter, especially if you want to go with two people on a scooter. The roads to the National Park go up a lot and that calls for some extra power.
What else is there to discover on Koh Lanta
- Saladan Village & Saladan Pier
Almost everyone arrives at the pier in the village of Saladan. The small village has everything a traveler needs. - Klong Dao Beach
Klong Dao Beach is a nice long and wide beach near the village of Saladan where beautiful resorts such as Twin Lotus are located. - Long Beach
Long Beach is the most popular beach of Koh Lanta, you have plenty of choice of nice bars and good restaurants. - Klong Khong Beach
Klong Khong Beach, also known as Relax Bay has a hippie vibe, you will find nice bars and budget accommodations at the beach. - Kantiang Bay
According to many visitors to Koh Lanta, Kantiang Bay is the most beautiful beach on the island. - Bamboo Bay
Small paradise beach with not much more than a white beach and a blue sea. - Ao Nui Beach
Lovely small beach with a few nice beach bars for a cool drink. - Mu Koh Lanta National Park
Mu Koh Lanta National Park is a beautiful area all the way south of Koh Lanta. Just the ride on the scooter there is already worth it! - Old Town
Old Town has beautiful authentic houses, souvenir shops and nice restaurants with the famous Instagram swings by the sea. - Time for Lime
You can find the best and most enjoyable cooking course at Time for Lime! And the great thing is that a large part of the proceeds are donated to Lanta Animal Welfare!
We put a lot of time, money and passion into this site… That’s why we would love it if you would support us! You can easily do this by using our links on the site to book your hotel and / or domestic trips. It costs you nothing extra but we get a small percentage of our partners like Booking.com, Agoda and 12GoAsia. Even if you decide to book another place to sleep than we mention, if you first click on our link you will already help us. You can also click on the links in this box to book something (not only in Thailand but anywhere in the world). Thank you in advance!
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