drrobert77

I've got an update...

First of all, to all the people who have told me what a despicable person I am for killing the dog, let me make one thing clear, no one is more disgusted as I am about my behaviour in all of this. I made a massive error of judgement and feel terrible - not looking for sympathy - that's just how I feel.

Ok, so thanks for all the advice.

The latest update is that after talking with my wife (and reading this topic) we went to the police station last night to explain our version of events. My Mrs told them that I had accidentally run over the dog and that a woman wanted 20k Baht as compensation.

The policeman made notes of all of this. He then told us that accidentally running over a dog is not a criminal offence. However, if the lady who is claiming to be the owner goes to the police then are obliged to investigate the matter, as they are with in all instances where someone contacts the police about something. He also said that if this went further then it is up to the courts to decide if I should compensate the owner, although she would have to prove that she did actually own the dog and there would also have to be evidence that a crime had actually been comitted. The police said that because of the costs involved it is highly unlikely that this would ever go to court. He suggested that we try and talk with the owner, maybe buy her a bottle of whisky or wine to resolve the matter.

As of yet, this woman hasn't made a complaint to the police. My wife has also told the sister of the woman (the sister is ouir neighbour) that we have been to the police, so if she wants to take this further it is up to her.

Like I said, I regret this whole thing and am actually quite ashamed of myself.

Well done, and also for getting a dangerous mutt off the street.

Look, I was never looking for sympathy about what I did and in the same respect I certainly wasn't looking to be congratulated about my actions either. I decided to share my story and post here because I was looking for advice, that's all. I still feel pretty sh1tty about this whole thing. In fact this whole situation, which is completley of my own making, has to be one of my biggest ever regrets.

I do have another updates of sorts - just to say that we haven't heard another thing from the woman who claimed the dog was hers - the woman who wanted the 20k - not a peep out of her after we told her we went to the police, so make of that what you will. Her sister, who is a neighbour of ours, has also twice brought round gifts for my wife - some Thai coconut caramel (kind of like a sweet candy) and some MAssaman curry.

Yes, in an ideal world expats in Thailand probably should speak better Thai. I would like to speak more Thai and have tried to learn but I find it very difficult!

they are available on watchthailand.net - I don't mean to promote the site but just posting in good faith as to answer the question posted above

Give her the 20k she wants... as soon as she pays 20,000 baht compensation for your cat killed by "her" dog...

This is a good point, now she has admitted ownership you should request 20,000 for each cat, plus emotional trauma for being chased about and fear of neighborhood, say you'll let her off if she pays you 100, 000

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I don't really want the whole situation to get that messy but you do make a good point. And the dog did kill at least one of our cats because I saw the dead cat in the dogs mouth.

I suspect the police would be almost as interested in charging her with 'keeping a nuisance dog' as in charging you with running over a soi dog...probably not much either way.

"Sorry about your dog, I know nothing about it"

And I suspect the police,

would only be interested in making money, and foreigners are rumoured to have lots of that.

Yes, and this is why I don't really want to go to the police. I don't mean to bad-mouth the police but we've all heard stories about them, right. I'm not flush with cash but that wont mean a thing if the local policeman even suspects that I might be - he might just see this whole thing as a pay day for himself rather then trying to find a reasonable end to the situation. Maybe I'm just being paranoid?

Not all Thai police are crooks, right?

One thing, let us know what happens on here. Would be nice to hear one conclusion to a thread ever

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Yes, sure thing, I will keep you updated

20 grand??? What type of dog was it? An ex 'Crufts' champion down on his luck?

Just some regular Thai soi dog, certainly not Crufts worthy.

What is her proof?

She has nothing its a bluff. Go on with your life and forget about the whole thing.

She reckons that 'someone' has seen me run it over, although this witness hasn't as yet come forward. The only person who knows for sure that I did it is my Mrs. When speaking with the woman in question my Mrs denied all knowledge and said I wasn't involved. I've not actually spoken to the woman in question as I don't speak Thai and she doesn't speak English

I can't see that you are being blackmailed, drrobert. The lady in question has requested you settle compensation for killing her dog.

There's half a dozen soi dogs here and nobody advertises ownership, but if I killed one then I would expect to be informed pretty sharpish.

Why don't you settle and have done with it.

Yes, maybe you're right

which she now claims is hers and she wants 20,000 Baht off me as compensation otherwise she goes to the police!

Great stuff, they never miss a trick do they?

Did the dog have a collar round its neck?

Offer to drive her to the local police station yourself.

Probably no more than a 1,000 baht fine.

The dog didn't have a regular collar just some rope tied around its neck. Plus, the sister of the woman who wants 20k, like I said, is a neighbor of ours and she has never in more than 3 years mentioned even once that her sister owns this dog

Try to get out in front of this: Go to the cops, and tell them you feared for your safety.

That's good advice I think. I can't see you did anything wrong, those aggressive dogs deserve to die

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Yes, this is something I have been thinking about.