Paws on board: Thai monk and temple dogs lift hearts along sacred river

A Thai Buddhist monk and his pack of temple dogs have become a beloved daily sight along the villages of Pathum Thani province, gliding down the Chao Phraya River each morning as the abbot of Wat Chin Wararam conducts his alms round by boat.

What started with a single small, white-haired abandoned dog at the temple has grown into one of the Chao Phraya River's most unexpected sights.

“There was only one, then they bred, and people kept dropping off more,” Luang Por Chamnan, abbot of Wat Chin Wararam, said, adding that he and temple aides have since taken care of them.

“Now they follow me everywhere.”

Each morning at 6 a.m., the monk sets off on his alms round —  a 30-minute journey along the river —  accompanied by 12 of his 20 temple dogs, the older ones left behind at the temple to rest.

Local worshippers said the sight has added meaning to the daily act of making merit and given them strength to face everyday life.

“Right now there are so many stressful things - the economy, wars, the global situation,” 38-year-old local worshipper Narucha Wannabovorn said.

“But just waking up and coming to see Luang Por and the dogs boarding the boat with him, it lifts my heart,” he added.

The monk said interest grew after the story spread online, drawing more people to make offerings along the riverbanks.

As for concerns about the dogs falling overboard, Luang Por Chamnan said it had only happened twice — when the dogs were playing with each other — but added that they could all swim.

Making merit through alms-giving is a familiar part of daily Buddhist life — but along the riverbanks of Thailand’s Pathum Thani, the sight of a monk accompanied by a dozen dogs has turned a routine morning ritual into something far less ordinary.

-Artorn Pookasook, Athit Perawongmetha, Napat Wesshasartar/Reuters