Thailand - a Nation of Dog Lovers ?

[Edge]

lifted from Thaivisa :-

 

Dogs saved from dinner tables, but still in danger

By NAKHON PHANOM

THE NATION

 

 

The lives of almost 2,000 dogs have been saved just in time, before they were to be transported to a neighbouring country to be cooked and eaten.

 

But although they have been saved from dog-trader gangs, no one can guarantee they will be safe and survive in their crowded cages while a shortage of food threatens their lives.

 

Some of the animals were reported dead or injured. The rest are at Nakhon Phanom Animal Quarantine Station.

 

They looked exhausted after they were moved from the small cages to be put in the station's only big cage. But that cage, which has a maximum capacity of 500 dogs, now has to house 1,800. They have inadequate food and water, as the station does not have the budget to feed such a huge crowd of dogs.

 

Nakhon Phanom Governor Rerngsak Mahawinijchaimontree said his team cooperated with animal-control staff and police to arrest the gangs on Thursday night.

 

He said they arrested Montree Thanklang, 45, a Nakhon Phanom resident, and Pan Hai, 30, a Vietnamese, while they were in a truck containing 600 dogs passing through the province's Na Thom district. Four other trucks containing 1,200 dogs were seized while they travelled through Si Songkhram district, where police arrested Noppadon Chaiwangrot, 40, a Sakon Nakhon resident.

 

Rerngsak said police were told that Noppadon had earlier released 600 other dogs into a forest.

 

"Police believe all the dogs would have been transferred to a ship waiting in Ban Phaeng district of Nakhon Phanom before going across the Mekong River to be sold in Vietnam, where lots of dogs are ordered to be cooked as famous exotic dishes."

 

He said police pressed charges against the suspect under the Animal Epidemic Act 1956 that prohibits relocating animals to zones at risk of epidemics without permission.

 

Previously, the province's authorities raided a place that housed dogs before they were traded in Na Wa district in June.

 

Reportedly dogs price can bring prices of Bt500-Bt1,000. Most dog traders have been reported from Tha Rae district in Sakon Nakhon. They travel to villages to barter goods, especially plastic buckets - each bucket costs only Bt50-Bt100.

 

The Animal Guardians Association has urged Rerngsak to seek better ways to help them.

 

To help the dogs in terms of donations, adoption or providing them shelter, people can contact the governor, the quarantine station or the association.

 

-- The Nation 2011-08-13

[999Baht]

In Australia we have problems trying to house illegal immigrants.

In Thailand they have problems trying to house dogs that are being deported.

 

I really don't know what the heck they are going to do with all those dogs...donations or not.

 

I worked briefly at the RSPCA (an animal shelter in Australia), you would not believe how many dogs were put down weekly.

It's sad to admit but I think with will be the fate of most of these seized dogs also.

[Edge]

In Australia we have problems trying to house illegal immigrants.

In Thailand they have problems trying to house dogs that are being deported.

 

I really don't know what the heck they are going to do with all those dogs...donations or not.

 

I worked briefly at the RSPCA (an animal shelter in Australia), you would not believe how many dogs were put down weekly.

It's sad to admit but I think with will be the fate of most of these seized dogs also.

 

 

There are two factors I think, which currently combine to create the problem illustrated here.

 

Firstly, there are far too many dogs in some areas of Thailand which are uncared for and practically vermin. They should be controlled and put down....IMO.

 

Secondly, there is a demand for dog meat for human (and other) consumption. In this case it is said that it is Vietnamese who eat them, but so do Thais in some ares.

 

The problem, therefore, is how they should be processed and taken to market i.e transport is the real issue.

In farangland, if it was permitted, the dogs would be caught or bought, humanely killed and then processed and packed or frozen before being transported

Unfortunately, as with the veal calf problem in UK a while back (the buyers being France & Germany etc), the market probably demands a live product.

 

The only answer I see is that Thailand should be honest enough to acknowledge the problem and deal with it.

The dogs should be caught and destroyed humanely.

 

 

[jocky king]

Interesting read and Shocking .... And they released 600 dogs in the forests? That is cruelty, how will they be fed without the owners...

[Edge]

Interesting read and Shocking .... And they released 600 dogs in the forests? That is cruelty, how will they be fed without the owners...

 

It was one of the traders / offenders who released the 600 into the forest.

 

Presumably he was just getting rid of some of the evidence and not greatly concerned as to what would become of them.

 

PS - Bear in mind that most of these dogs have been sold by their former owners to the dealers.

 

 

 

[andyaus]

I am a bit of a dog lover. My favourite is the boxer but I have had Cocker Spaniels, Dobermans and a Kelpie as well.

 

When I first went to Thailand and saw the stray dogs in Bangkok I thought much the same as everyone else about the way we think the Thais treat dogs. My eyes were opened when I visited the Chatuchak Weekend Market and saw the hugh variety of dogs for sale. You name it and they seemed to have it and the prices were much higher that I would have imagined. Apparently the Thais love their dogs as much as the rest of us and they spend up big on accessories.

 

Later on I went on a longtail boat up the Canals and I saw beautiful big houses lining the waterways. Most had jetties of some sort and every few hundred meters it seemed that the home owners were out washing their dogs.

 

I looks to me that some dogs in Thailand get treated much better than some people.

 

Seems to me that the big difference is that we have our local council who quickly round up the stray dogs and get them off the street. Perhaps if the strays have some commercial applications then he dog problem in Thailand would disappear over night.

[Edge]

....................................My eyes were opened when I visited the Chatuchak Weekend Market and saw the hugh variety of dogs for sale. You name it and they seemed to have it and the prices were much higher that I would have imagined. Apparently the Thais love their dogs as much as the rest of us and they spend up big on accessories.

................................................

 

You're right of course, there is very much a two tier system here and it's the strays or Soi Dogs (which are mostly not strays) which are the problem.

They're usually not speyed or vaccinated, so Parvo Virus and Distemper are rife, making it difficult to keep and exercise 'cared for' dogs or pets.

 

I kept and bred lots of dogs in UK, but I soon learnt it's not worth the bother and heartache here.

 

 

As you say, those who keep dogs properly as pets spend a lot of money. A visit to the Vet' is not a cheap day out here.

 

 

[LaaMok]

A visit to the Vet' is not a cheap day out here.

 

The vet homes to my house once a month to vaccinate my dogs, I have always found the vet real cheap here!

[ExpatDave]

[jojomecanic]

Are we doing better than Thais ?

 

[Inspector Moy]

In the main, Thailand do like their animals. They are a Buddhist nation which prevents them killing animals/creatures generally.

 

That said, my Thai missus will see off anything from big spiders to snakes without a second thought (God/Buddha bless her !!). The dogs that we have most trouble with are wild pack animals that have been abandonned by their owners for a variety of reasons. Some people just run back to Isaan-land having had boyfriend troubles or gambling problems leaving their faithful mutt to fend for itself.

 

Here in Pattaya, the dogs are generally few and far between in the City as there is, unbelievably, a Dog Warden operating. The outlying areas such as the Dark Side, have major problems with packs of mange ridden, flea infested hounds scouring the bins and in some cases attacking the folks who live here. Only the other day, a youngster, 6 yo, was bitten on the side by a semi wild Borzoi-X and was hospitalised to undergo rabies injections. Most folk walk with a stick and some carry a self-defence baton should they be attacked on bicycles or m/bikes. Anyone who has been bitten and subjected to rabies injections will understand how painful and lengthy that process is.

 

Apart from the lawlessness of dogs roaming around in packs, it is surely grossly unkind to let them suffer the deprivation and starvation they all seem to have. It must be kinder to 'slacken' the population in a proper and humane way. I certainly would not condone the 'killing for food' approach despite it still happening in neighbouring Countries.

[Inspector Moy]

The vet homes to my house once a month to vaccinate my dogs, I have always found the vet real cheap here!

 

With the greatest respect, you are a farang who has a certain amount responsibility in the community. Most of the people who abandon their animals are Thai nationals who move on for whatever reason. I'll bet the Vet has many an interesting tale to tell !!!!

[stevxpl]

You're right of course, there is very much a two tier system here and it's the strays or Soi Dogs (which are mostly not strays) which are the problem.

They're usually not speyed or vaccinated, so Parvo Virus and Distemper are rife, making it difficult to keep and exercise 'cared for' dogs or pets.

 

I kept and bred lots of dogs in UK, but I soon learnt it's not worth the bother and heartache here.

 

 

As you say, those who keep dogs properly as pets spend a lot of money. A visit to the Vet' is not a cheap day out here.

 

Have to agree with you on culling the dogs here, far to many running around.

 

I have a Soi dog with distemper. When she was a puppy, right after I picked her up off the street and taken her to the vet for a week to get sorted out it didn't cost all that much for a week at the Vet. I think it was around the 1,200 baht mark. Then after a week at home she came down sick and I was then told she had distemper with another week at the Vet but again only a little over 1,000 baht. The Vets here are dirt cheap, a mate put me onto the one just down the road to Tesco's South which is open 24 hrs and are great and cost stuff all.

 

Dog food and monthly meds don't cost more than 1,000/month these days so they aren't that expensive to have around.

[Edge]

The vet homes to my house once a month to vaccinate my dogs, I have always found the vet real cheap here!

 

 

Sounds like a pigeon?

 

Yes you're right about home visits - they're good value. Vaccines are not very expensive and I think we were getting them done for about 2-300 Baht per dog.

You can get injectible or skin application worm and tick treatments for 20-40 Baht from Naklua.

 

 

However, I said a "visit to the Vet'", by which I meant when something goes wrong.

 

Twice we took puppies which had been badly savaged by other dogs. They should have been put down, but the Vets insisted on extensive, pointless and expensive surgery and weeks of expensive after care before they died.

Pointless for the dogs, but good for the Vets' income.

 

On another occasion, we had 2 Rotweillers which contracted Parvo and Distemper before they could be vaccinated. Despite testing positive for fatal diseases, the dogs were kept alive for 4-5 weeks which cost thousands of Baht.

 

The Vets refused my several requests to put any of them down.

 

IME, "a visit to the Vets is not a cheap day out here", but I accept that the guy who came out on his motorbike to do routine vaccinations was good value.

Just hope nothing goes wrong.

 

 

[Edge]

Have to agree with you on culling the dogs here, far to many running around.

 

I have a Soi dog with distemper. When she was a puppy, right after I picked her up off the street and taken her to the vet for a week to get sorted out it didn't cost all that much for a week at the Vet. I think it was around the 1,200 baht mark. Then after a week at home she came down sick and I was then told she had distemper with another week at the Vet but again only a little over 1,000 baht. The Vets here are dirt cheap, a mate put me onto the one just down the road to Tesco's South which is open 24 hrs and are great and cost stuff all.

.............................................

 

It sounds like you were as lucky as you can be with Distemper :-

 

Canine distemper is one of the most fatal diseases a dog can fall prey to. Over half of the dogs that develop canine distemper die from the disorder. It is a multisystemic viral ailment caused by the canine distemper virus (CDV) that affects the gastrointestinal, respiratory and central nervous systems. Although vast vaccination plans have served to dramatically decrease the incidence of the disorder, it continues to be one of the most serious dog diseases in various regions of the world. Canines most vulnerable to the illness are those aged between three to six months old, who more likely to die from it than older dogs. Canine distemper is principally disseminated throughout the air via airborne virus particles that come from the physical fluids and feces of pet dogs infected with the canine distemper virus.

The Rotweillers also had Parvovirus.

I agree that on a per visit basis it is cheaper here than UK, but I wouldn't go with "dirt cheap".

I think I was using the same Vet you're referring to. In each case there were 2 dogs involved and I can't (don't want to) recall the detailed amounts for all the overnight stays and treatments. I changed to another Vet on Pattaya Tai (next to aquarium shop) but it was just the same routine there.

I'd guess each experience cost me in excess of 10k (i.e. x 2) by the time they all died. If that's dirt cheap then count me out thanks.

[THAJEC]

It is horrifying photo. Animal is here same as thing. Everything is here for trade. Thais do not care about these dogs as living creatures but as things.

[gogo dog]

For a nation that relies on motorcycles for transport I'm surprised soi dogs are tolerated at all. They must cause hundreds if not thousands of fatalities and many many injuries every year.

[doctorsam17]

deleted

Edited August 13, 2011 by doctorsam17

[Edge]

For a nation that relies on motorcycles for transport I'm surprised soi dogs are tolerated at all. They must cause hundreds if not thousands of fatalities and many many injuries every year.

 

 

Speaking as one who was brought down by a dog leaping over the railway track wall, straight into my front wheel, resulting in considerable loss of flesh, 3 broken metatarsals and a GoGo girl on the back requiring compensation for time off work, needless to say I would like to see them gone.

 

I was also regularly terrorised by another dog lying in wait for me, but apparently he picked on a Thai too and duly received the piece of cyanide laced chicken he richly deserved.

 

 

[LaaMok]

Speaking as one who was brought down by a dog leaping over the railway track wall, straight into my front wheel, resulting in considerable loss of flesh, 3 broken metatarsals and a GoGo girl on the back requiring compensation for time off work, needless to say I would like to see them gone.

 

I was also regularly terrorised by another dog lying in wait for me, but apparently he picked on a Thai too and duly received the piece of cyanide laced chicken he richly deserved.

 

I came off my bike once because of a dog.... but I would never want an animal poisoned just for surviving, they can't help it that they are not very intelligent. Are they meant to jump off a bridge once they find out they are homeless? I love animals/dogs etc and wouldn't want to see any get harmed, however I do wish they could stop all soi dogs reproducing and phase out the problem. The insurance companies should get together and sort it out, I am sure it will save them lots of money.

[Edge]

I came off my bike once because of a dog.... but I would never want an animal poisoned just for surviving, they can't help it that they are not very intelligent. Are they meant to jump off a bridge once they find out they are homeless? I love animals/dogs etc and wouldn't want to see any get harmed, however I do wish they could stop all soi dogs reproducing and phase out the problem. The insurance companies should get together and sort it out, I am sure it will save them lots of money.

 

 

I don't think the dog which was poisoned was homeless (difficult to tell sometimes) but it was certainly being well fed and sleeping outside someone's home.

 

I spoke to the apparent owners but they just grinned and shrugged their shoulders. I asked TGF to speak to them but she was too scared to go there.

I tried to make friends with it and even offered it pieces of chicken, though stopping and chasing it with an iron bar seemed to work better and I was looking to buy a Taser for it to play with.

 

It literally laid in wait for me behind some bushes, or if it was late it would just lie in the middle of the road.

For a while I carried an iron bar on a rope and threw it out at it. That was fun.

 

It was a big ugly scar faced ginger thing. It terrorised other dogs, savaging two of my neighbour's dogs to my knowledge and ripping one's ear and half its face off, causing that one to be 'vanished' to the temple.

 

I don't wish animals harm for no particular reason, but I was really pleased to come back from a trip to hear that it had tried the same tricks on a Thai and been terminated.

 

Actually I was so sick of it I'd asked someone to get me some cyanide, though that was probably a bad idea (because it wouldn't take food from me).

 

Sorry, blanket 'love' of animals doesn't make any sense to me, but then I was a pig farmer so perhaps I became de-sensitised somewhere back there.

[pattaya bound]

Edge you talking about "Soi dogs" like this......

[Edge]

Edge you talking about "Soi dogs" like this......

 

No danger of them jumping over railway track walls and fetching me off my bike, but yes, they look like they've produced a good few in their time.

 

 

 

[pattaya bound]

Your right not likely to jump the fence. But damn I just don't want to get even close to those ones.....

[Premier3]

As a dog owner stories like these make me sad. But I recognize the problem. Now the question is what would b be