Our stay in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh, was limited to just enough time to unwind and get in a little needed volunteering.
After our experience with animal cruelty in the previous week, we got in contact with the Cambodian Animals Protection Association (CAPA) located in Phnom Penh to see how we could help.
CAPA founder and President, Mme Kim Loan, has been housing over 100 dogs and 20 cats in her own house, and visits pagodas and villages to give food and vaccinations to more than 200 stray cats and dogs every single day. Many of these animals are waiting for their “forever home” but unfortunately it is not as common for the Cambodian people to own a pet like it is in other parts of the world. Most of the adopted doggies are by foreigners or ex-pats living temporarily in Phnom Penh.
Madame Loan with some of the rescues.
We arrived to Mme Loan’s house by Tuk-Tuk, located approximately 20 minutes away from the city, and got straight to work. Seven hours and two very achy backs later, we had cleaned up after the cats, fed the animals and bathed and groomed about 35 of the dogs. It was a wet n’ wild day to say the least!
Dog wranglin’.
Bath time.
1 down…SO many more to go!
One meal’s worth of food for all the dogs. 20kg of rice costs $21 dollars and they go through an entire bag in just two days!
Rex required all hands on board!
Dinner has been served.
The rest of our time in Phnom Penh was fairly uneventful as most of the attractions and market’s were closed for several days due to the celebration of the Chinese New Year. While the Chinese New Year is not an official holiday in Cambodia, it is widely celebrated anyway, primarily by those of Chinese and part Chinese descent and ethnic Vietnamese. Ali was a little bummed to miss the infamous Russian Market, known for its wide-array of artisan goods, antique furniture, jewelry and souvenirs, but it was probably for the best. Our backs (and wallets) will thank us for it later!
greetings from blank 
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