Governor halts roundup of stray dogs

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang has suspended City Hall’s roundup of stray dogs following criticism by animal welfare advocates of how the dogs are being cared for.

Pol Gen Aswin Kwanmuang yesterday cited “concerns of pet lovers” over the city’s ongoing anti-stray dog policy which has been intensified to catch up to 150,000 strays.

The suspension will last for about 100 days. City officials agreed to delay the roundup, pending a fresh action plan to be issued by a newly established working group.

The group, comprising officials and representatives from non-governmental networks, will work on a range of issues, from ways to catch stray dogs, to proper management of their new shelters within the 100-day period.

“One aim is to reduce any conflict between City Hall and pet lovers,” Pol Gen Aswin said.

Chollada “Kae” Mekratri, who runs the Voice Foundation for Animals, gave her full support to the move.

Speaking after yesterday’s meeting between City Hall and animal welfare groups, the actress applauded Pol Gen Aswin for allowing people to help monitor the way officials resolve stray dog problems.

Animal rights advocates will work as a mouthpiece for stray dogs and cats, she said.

However, Pol Gen Aswin insisted that city officials will continue to catch stray dogs that behave badly or those that are at risk of contracting rabies.

The spread of the fatal virus sparked grave worries earlier this year as it caused deaths among people in many provinces. Stray dogs often spread the disease.

In Bangkok, strays which have been caught are mainly held at a city-run dog detention in Prawet district where they receive vaccinations.

Officials will release dogs only if people contact them to claim ownership.

City Hall is currently trying to strike a balance between its policy to reduce the number of stray dogs and the need for appropriate animal welfare management.

Pol Gen Aswin insisted the city will go ahead with the policy as many complaints over disturbances caused by stray animals have rolled into his office.

Earlier, the Soi Dog Foundation (SDF) expressed opposition to the BMA’s measures saying there is no way to have enough shelters for the street dogs. Instead of capturing all of them, it proposed sterilisation and vaccination for the dogs.

The foundation agrees that aggressive dogs that bite people should be rounded up. But the majority of strays tend to steer clear of people, which is why people have to be trained on how to catch them, it said.

The foundation said it had carried out surveys of the 50 districts within the Bangkok metropolitan area and three years ago carried out a census in the whole greater Bangkok area, which revealed approximately 640,000 roaming dogs.

“We are now close to sterilising 100,000 animals per year,” the foundation said. “This costs 50 million baht a year, with no support from the city.

“If sterilised and vaccinated dogs are going to be removed, then SDF will have to consider whether there is any point in continuing with the programme.”

The World Health Organisation, the Food and Agriculture division of the United Nations, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, agree that the most effective way to eliminate rabies is to vaccinate dogs, and if a minimum of 70% of dogs are vaccinated in a city or country, rabies will be eliminated, providing there are strict controls on any new dogs coming in.

“Educating people on responsible pet ownership, and that it is not wrong or against Buddhist principles to sterilise dogs and cats, is also essential. Controlling the growing number of puppy farms is also badly needed,” the foundation said.