Any parent who’s struggled financially knows, when you’re hungry, you always feed your child first. As the parent, you have the responsibility to care for an innocent and vulnerable creature; their lives are entirely in your hands. Loong Dum (sometimes referred to as Somsak Yaluemde), a homeless man in Thailand, may not have any children, but he definitely knows the responsibility of care.
Last year, photos of a homeless man named Loong Dum from Bangkok, Thailand, began circulating on social media. This man, like so many parents before him, was struggling with a mouth to feed— and it definitely wasn’t his own.
According to Khaosod English, the photos, which were shared on the Cat Lover Uncle Black Facebook page showed Loong Dum, homeless and barefoot, selling limes to feed his beloved stray cats.
“It doesn’t matter if I starve, only that the cats are full,” read a sign he held up in a photo posted May 19th.
“I love cats.”
Every day, Loong Dum walks to the top of the bridge he calls home to sells limes in order to feed “his” stray cats.
Warunya Wattanasupachoke, the woman who took the original photos, told Daily News she had met the man while walking by an overpass near Chatuchak. As she approached, she could make out the sign on his stand. It read, “20 baht per bag, profits will for stray cats’ food expenses.”
As Warunya chatted with Loong Dum, she learned his limes were supplied as a gift from a kindhearted, Good Samaritan. She described the man as “friendly and polite”, describing how he apologized often for his lack of knowledge in selecting the ripest citrus fruits.
“I’m fine with skipping meals,” he said. “But the cats need to eat.”
When the photos of Loong Dum where shared on various cat social media pages, the homeless man went completely viral.
People began frequenting the Mo Chit BTS station, specifically just to see him! Many of Loong Dum’s adoring fans brought him limes and cat supplies for free.
Later, other people even chipped in to get him a makeover and brand-new clothes!
Even though Loong Dum is now famous, he hasn’t let the attention get to his head. He still heads to the bridge every day to sell limes, and his life would be meaningless without his beloved cats.
Warunya said, “We shouldn’ judge someone based on their appearance.”
“Take Loong Dum, for example. Though he is homeless and rugged-looking, he has a big heart.”
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