A Thai woman received online praise for staying on a rooftop with her dog and cat for three days during floods, refusing rescue unless her pets could join her. - Photo: AP/FB@NewJazz Looknew
BANGKOK: A Thai woman declined rescue and chose to remain stranded on a rooftop amid severe floods to stay with her pet dog and cat, garnering online praise.
The woman, known as Jazz, appealed for help on social media on Nov 22.
She reported being trapped on the roof with the water level rising dangerously close to her.
In her post, she also provided her location and requested authorities to cut power in her neighbourhood to prevent electrocution.
In a video included with her post, she was seen at a makeshift tent on the rooftop, accompanied by her cat and dog.
A video with her post showed a makeshift tent on the rooftop, where she stayed with her cat and dog. - Photo: mustsharenews.com
Torrential rains caused catastrophic floods, the worst in years, across Southeast Asian countries.
Over 1.4 million households and 3.8 million people have been affected by flooding in 12 provinces of southern Thailand.
Throughout the 30 hours she was stranded, Jazz continued to post pleas for rescue.
A reporter who shared her situation, which received 58,000 likes, noted that rescuers arrived earlier by boat during the heavy rain but could not take her dog with them.
Jazz refused to leave without her dog, while expressing understanding of the rescue teams’ safety protocols. She later fitted a muzzle on the dog, but the rescuers did not return.
Stranded on the rooftop for three days without food, Jazz finally made her way to safety when the water receded. - Photo: mustsharenews.com
She mentioned that her cat was too frightened to leave the pet carrier.
Fortunately, Jazz and her two pets managed to survive the ordeal on their own.
As the water level began to recede, she resolved to make her way out by herself.
At 10am the following day, she posted again, sharing a photo of herself wading through knee-high water, her dog secured in a plastic bucket.
She confirmed that both her pets and she were safe and expressed gratitude to online supporters for their concern. She added that she had been starving after not eating anything for three days.
Reflecting on her choice to stay with her pets, she stated: “People who do not like animals will never understand. Dogs and cats have lives too. We are their entire world.”
Torrential rains caused catastrophic floods across Southeast Asia, the worst in years, affecting over 1.4 million households and 3.8 million people in 12 provinces of southern Thailand. - Photo: Reuters
One commenter said: “I am so happy to know you are safe now. I respect you for not abandoning your pets.”
Another praised Jazz’s decision, saying: “Animals are of equal value to humans because they breathe the same air as us.”
Some commenters even offered to donate food for her pets.
One individual showed understanding towards the rescue workers’ decision not to return, stating: “I understand the rescue workers from my experience working with them. They had to avoid dangerous areas even though they wanted to help. They are outnumbered by the victims, and they also have their own families to care for,” the person said. - South China Morning Post
