Published on May 07, 2005

His Majesty the King yesterday opened a hydrotherapy swimming pool at Kasetsart University for dogs who suffer from orthopaedic and nerve diseases.

The pool was named Suvarnachad, after His Majesty’s favourite dog Tongdaeng. Both names mean “copper”.

His Majesty granted the pool project more than Bt2.13 million from the sale of T-shirts and polo shirts bearing the image of Tongdaeng, said Viroch Impithuksa, president of the university.

The pool, which was completed in January, was modelled after a pool for His Majesty’s pet dogs at Klai Kangwon Palace in Hua Hin.

The pool consists of a hydrotherapy area and a normal pool, both 1.5 metres deep. The hydrotherapy pool is 2.35m by 3.8m with four water jets and a pulley system, and the regular pool is 15.35m by 3.8m.

Noppakrit Chanthik, a veterinarian at the university’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, said the hydrotherapy pool could accommodate two dogs at a time.

For up to Bt150 a go, dog owners can take their ailing pooches to the pool for 30-minute therapeutic sessions, said Noppakrit, who is also one of the vets who regularly takes care of His Majesty’s dogs.

The pool will be supervised at all times by a trained vet and two qualified staff trainers, he added.

It is not yet open to the public, he said, but it would be able to receive its first sick canines soon.

His Majesty also granted nearly Bt4 million from the sale of Suvarnachad T-shirts and polo shirts to several veterinary projects at the university: DNA mapping for native canine breeds, research on leptospirosis, and a Bt2-million fund for ailing dogs.

Suvarnachad is also the brandname for a separate product line covering a variety of Royal products.

Tanapa Turmjitaree, Rakchanok Pairattanawong

The Nation

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