The Mae Sot Dogs-- A Musical

The Dogs of Mae Sot: The next Broadway Musical (and could someone, please, request the Dog whisperer to visit Mae Sot!)

Ok, these dogs are getting their own section. Not the border rebel fighters with their automatic weapons, not us darting between cars and speeding motorbikes as we pedal, not us running through road construction dodging bobcats and bulldozers who move menacingly close, not the malaria or the dengue fever, but the DOGS! These are by far the most dangerously curious creatures in Mae Sot, The Mae Sot Dogs.

First, you have to recall an old cult classic, The Warriors, maybe mix in a little Westside Story and we’ve got you in the right mindset. So, everyday we get on our bikes, we never know when a Mae Sot dog may growl or bark loudly and menacingly at us, they may chase us, may snap at us, or they may even bite us. During the day, these dogs are solo looking for scraps of food or wreaking havoc on traffic by lying in the middle of the road. Nearly every volunteer (and there are a lot) has had some encounter with a Mae Sot dog. These dogs may just plop right down in the street right where you are biking and not move or even wake up as loud construction trucks rumble by and of course not move for a lowly bicycler. Numerous times we have to stop dead in out tracks just before being run off the road by one of these tough dogs.

So us volunteers have to travel in packs, especially at night. We call ourselves the Bicycler Gang. (hear the fingers snapping). There are usually six or more of us traveling from night market, to our home riding through the busy streets. Late at night everything gets quiet and all that are left are us and the dogs. (more finger snapping). Usually there are just some glares and some growls, but not tonight (dah dun). Tonight, Steff will brave the cold dark streets of Mae Sot, alone… As she comes around the bend in the road she makes a wrong turn and passes a pack of Mae Sot dogs. One dog glares at her from his one beady red eye and shows his fangs. These dogs are veteran street fighters. But they leave her alone. She pedals farther down the street and sees a gun toting man roaming the streets. She realizes she is going down the wrong road and has to turn around and pass this armed man again, and the dogs. He stares at her but no growl. It is eerily quiet.

Steff gets back on the main one-way street leaving the gun wielding man behind her and the first red-eyed dog pack on the corner. As she nears her street she is inching up on two new dog packs standing guard at either end of the street. Some of the dogs are hobbling around on three legs- the unlucky ones. These dogs aren’t your typical American mini pups that you carry around in your purse. These are sad, strange and scary creatures. Steff is not worried by the gun carrying man, but as she nears the Mae Sot dog gangs she shakes inside. She makes it past the first with no problems, but as she nears the next they begin to stir. They stare long and hard at Steff as she begins to cycle closer. Steff remembers watching the Dog Whisperer (good ole Cesar) and makes herself appear calm, cool and Dominate. One dog nears her. He’s missing all of his fur except a patch on his face. Steff gets ready to kick it with her barefoot in sandals (sorry Jackie!) it stops and allows her to pass. She thinks, “Oh yes. I am safe.” She turns the corner and there are more. Oh no! This makes about 25 dogs total, There are still 75 yard between her and the safety of her front gate. She picks up speed and races for the gate. She stumbles with the key as the pack approaches from behind; she makes it inside and survives yet another night against the Mae Sot dogs.