Following complaints, Phuket officials swoop on stray dogs

Following a number of complaints from fed up locals, Phuket officials on Wednesday swooped on stray dogs in the island province’s main city district.

The residents had complained that a pack of dogs had been causing a nuisance. They said the dogs were chasing after motorcycles, as well as defecating on streets and people’s properties.

The Department of Public Health and Environment’s veterinary team, and officials from Phuket Municipality, caught two strays in the Taling Chan community. The rest of the dogs, however, managed to run away.

The officials brought the two captured dogs to the Phuket Stray Dog Shelter (Suang Pa Bang Kanun). There, they were checked for diseases before being vaccinated and sterilised. It was confirmed that the dogs would remain in the shelter’s care.

The municipality reported that it is making efforts to deal with Phuket’s stray dogs, using methods such as vaccination and sterilisation. However, the problem with people abandoning unwanted dogs on the streets persists.

The issue of people allowing their dogs to roam around on the streets makes the problem even worse, the municipality added.

The team confirmed that it would return to the area to find the dogs who evaded capture.

Meanwhile, Kathu Municipality in collaboration with the Livestock Foundation and the Soi Dog Foundation announced it will launch a rabies vaccination drive for dogs. The campaigns will run from 9am to 4pm each day, according to The Phuket News. The dates and places are as follows:

• April 21 at the sports field park, Kathu district
• April 24 at Wat Kathu
• April 25 at the Orb School, Ban Mai Smooth
• April 26 at Thung Thong Shrine
• April 27 at Wat Ket Ho

For more information contact the Division of Public Health and Environment Veterinary Work at 0-7632-1500.

Thailand has a widespread problem with stray animals. Last month, a beach holiday went completely wrong for one tourist after a dog viciously attacked him in Krabi.

In 2017, it was estimated that there were 860,000 stray dogs and cats in Thailand. That’s more than double the 350,000 in a decade earlier in 2007. Somchuan Ratanamungklanon, the deputy director-general of Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development predicted that in 2027, Thailand would have “as many as 2 million stray dogs and cats in 2027 and 5 million in 2037”.