From Thailand to the U.S.: A Thanksgiving Surprise Honoring 100 Readers Who Helped Save Street Dogs

The Man That Rescues Dogs Sanctuary unveiled a heartfelt surprise tribute to its treasured supporters this Thanksgiving, painting their names onto a commemorative wall at the shelter in Thailand.

To celebrate the success of 'Home. Made.' - a nonfiction book written to generate funds for the Sanctuary, documenting the incredible journey of Founder Michael J. Baines and the heartwarming tale of TMTRD - Michael and the team in Thailand paid tribute to the first 100 readers by inscribing their names onto a vibrant 'Wall of Gratitude' in Shelter 6, forever immortalizing them as 'part of the story.'

Opened in 2017, the Sanctuary houses more than 780 rescue dogs (including 50 TikTok-famous paralyzed dogs affectionately nicknamed The Wheelchair Mafia), while monitoring, feeding and caring for an additional 450 stray dogs. TMTRD provides food, shelter and medical treatment for Thailand's canine community, and also helps to safely control the stray population with medical care, vaccinations, and local education.

Distributed in 12 countries, the memoir has already raised thousands of dollars for TMTRD, creating a welcome new revenue stream for the nonprofit organization to continue their work, and expand their crucial mission. Published by social impact production company 'Witchcraft' (who flip book royalties into the favor of nonprofit organizations), 70% of royalties are donated back to the Sanctuary. Within the first two months of sale, the money raised from royalties funded 6,883 meals for the 1,000 dogs in the shelter's care, meaning every reader's purchase has made a life-changing impact to dogs in need.

"We wanted to say thank you to all of the people who have raised money for the Sanctuary by purchasing the book," Baines said, of the Thanksgiving surprise. "We have an incredible community of people that have supported our cause for many years, and have also welcomed new supporters this year, who were interested in the book and our story.

"I am very proud of what we have built here. It's been an amazing journey, and the idea to paint the names onto a wall is to celebrate everyone who is also part of the story - to always remember their generosity, and the difference it has made. Everything we do here is for the happiness of the dogs, and Home. Made. has allowed us to do even more.

"As we live solely on donations, the book has been excellent for us as a source of income for the dogs. Until now, we didn't have much in terms of products to sell, other than T-shirts and coffee mugs - but the 70% of donations will be so crucial for us in the long run. Thank you again to everyone who has supported us, and we hope you like this small token of thankfulness."

Receiving renowned acclaim from the likes of celebrity photographer Jeff Katz, host, producer and restaurateur Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, and filmmaker and BBC Investigative Journalist Mikey Kay, Home. Made. has been hailed a 'heartwarming, heroic and inspirational' story. The memoir recounts Baines' remarkable journey from the bustling kitchens of Sweden's most popular restaurant scene, to the tranquil cassava fields of Bang Saen, Thailand - the Swedish entrepreneur quit his successful culinary career to open the nonprofit rescue and rehabilitation center for stray dogs.

The book also reveals the deeply moving and most difficult challenges of Baines' own life, namely his personal struggles with drug and alcohol addiction. After somehow finding himself working for the alleged Yugoslavian Mafia in Sweden, the chef became caught up in the dangerous world of drugs, chasing highs to ward off his demons, before he was delivered a life-changing ultimatum. 'A captivating read that warms the heart' and makes a positive impact, the book has earned five-star reviews around the world, and continues to help dogs in Thailand to live happier and healthier lives.

Home. Made. is available to purchase in the U.S. at heywitchcraft.com/shop, or via Amazon for readers outside of the U.S.

408 Plymouth Court

Caroline Oatway
caroline@heywitchcraft.com
857-763-7947

ABOUT THE MAN THAT RESCUES DOGS

After moving to Thailand from Sweden in 2002 for a fresh start and to advance his career as a chef, Michael J. Baines began feeding the local dogs outside his restaurant. With many of his canine friends in poor health and in need of medical care, he adopted several himself, providing food, shelter and treatment at the local veterinary clinic. Despite limited funds and space, he dedicated his free time to rescuing as many dogs as he could, eventually launching his Foundation, The Man That Rescues Dogs.

Opened in 2017 and located just outside of Bangkok, Thailand, the Foundation currently houses 750+ rescued dogs, monitoring and feeding a further 400 within the Bang Saen and Sriracha area. Covering 8,000 sqm, the Sanctuary contains eight main shelters, a full-service clinic, specialized Care Units, a sterile quarantine section for new rescues and dogs with serious diseases, three hydrotherapy pools, and play and relaxation areas.

More than 30 staff members, skilled veterinarians, construction workers and administrative staff are employed by the Foundation, which is supported by the local government in Thailand. TMTRD provides nutritious meals per day to dogs in its care, and also serves to help control the stray dog population in the local area through spaying and neutering, whilst administering life-saving vaccinations and medical care.

The Man That Rescues Dogs Foundation relies heavily on the generosity of donations, accepted via PayPal (info@tmtrd.org / paypal.me/tmtrd), SWIFT (KASITHBK), GIVE.Asia (tmtrd.give.asia) or bank transfer: Thailand: Kasikorn Bank: 0538123870, The Man That Rescues Dogs Foundation

ABOUT WITCHCRAFT

Launched in 2022 by social entrepreneur and studying Doctor of Philosophy in Transformative Social Change Samantha Wilson, Witchcraft is an all-female social impact production company, working to bring funding to nonprofits on the front lines of social change using for-profit advantages. They draw upon the art and power of storytelling, and produce books to benefit each organization by generating awareness, positive media attention, and revenue in the form of book royalties. Each book purchase results in a direct donation to the organization. Their mission is to revolutionize the nonprofit industrial complex by providing a social enterprise model that unites causes and conscious consumers to dismantle systems of oppression through the celebration of purchasing power.

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HOME. MADE. REVIEWS

"Honest. Heartwarming. Heroic. A wonderful, heart-touching, inspirational read. Michael paints a very clear picture with his captivating words. It made me think outside of myself and want to be a better person like Michael. It will awaken your senses and inspire you!"
- Jeff Katz, Jeff Katz Photography

"Heartening. Inspiring. Captivating. A beautiful and wholesome read that exuded stories from the deepest depths of humanity via the lens of a man who has culminated his quest from an eclectic life, to dedicating himself to the well being of dogs in Thailand."
- Mikey Kay, Filmmaker & BBC Investigative Journalist

"Inspirational. Heartwarming. Interesting. I read it in one sitting, and cried during a few parts. If Michael's story doesn't make you emotional, the dogs certainly will."
- Manolo Gonzalez Vergara, Host, Producer, Restauranteur

This release was published on openPR.