Koh Koh Pups, Koh Tao 🐾

There is only one dog shelter on the entire island of Koh Tao. Most people who visit never know it exists.

We went to see where your support really goes.

One woman, one island

When COVID hit, dogs across Koh Tao were abandoned overnight. One woman decided that was not okay.

Lara started Koh Koh Pups in 2019. Over 200 dogs rehomed since, some now living in the UK, Canada and the US.

It began on the island's rubbish dump. That was the only land they could get, so that is where they cared for the dogs, many already living there scavenging for food.

After years of that, they secured new premises up in the hills. The dogs now have a proper outdoor area to run.

What she has built is remarkable.

What it takes to keep it running

A rescue is not just feeding bowls and walks. It is constant upkeep, and on a small island that work never stops.

Koh Tao gets heavy rain. So heavy it can wash the drainage channels away and flood the site. Keeping them clear is what gets the shelter through the wet season.

Water is just as precious, so every drop of rain is collected and stored.

Then there are the dogs themselves. During my time there on of them had worked out (despite repeated attempts to stop her) how to climb the chain link fence between two pens, hauling herself up and over to visit the dogs next door. Impressive, very sweet, and a reminder that this place needs constant care.

The dogs

In the end, the dogs are the reason any of it matters, and Koh Koh Pups is full of them! 

There is Oliver. A German Shepherd, ten years old, an absolute unit. A gentle giant, still waiting for his forever home.

And the two longest residents, Red and Squeak, here since 2021. Red is the last of eight rescued pups still at the shelter, still waiting to be chosen.

Every one of them has a name, a story, a personality. None of them are a statistic.

Why this matters to us

One woman. A handful of volunteers. A lot of love.

You do not need scale to make a difference. You need someone willing to show up, every single day, for dogs the rest of the world forgot.

That is the whole point of Good For Pets. The more we grow, the more we can give to work like this. And that only happens because people choose to buy from us. Your purchases become real care for dogs thousands of miles away.

If you are ever on Koh Tao, go and visit. Follow their story on Instagram at @kohkohpups.

These dogs deserve to be seen.

Thank you for being part of it.

Will Rushmere Founder, Good For Pets