wildewillie89

3 hours ago, Kasset Tak said:

Teachers hired directly by the school (not yet a government officer) only get the minimum wages of around 300 Baht day x work 5 days  a week ≈ 6-7,000 Baht a month!!!
Why they accept this and also sometimes pay for getting the job?! When they have worked for a while (years) then they can become government officers and their salaries have a potential to get all the way up to 80-100,000 Baht/month for a teacher that keeps his/her mouth in cheek and do all the right things! And yeah, it is truth, I know this as my Thai co-teacher earns 75,000 Baht/month.

Have to pass the test/interview which isn't easy due to high attendance/limited places. You can be an official your first year out of university if you pass the process. Years of experience makes no difference (actually results in lesser pay/pension as you spent less years as an official). 

Many teachers never become officials for this reason (although everyone tries). Get their monthly salaries, but don't get the lifelong benefits. Usually the middle rank teachers who cant pass the test just work at private schools who give them the free health for them and their family until they retire. The lost causes just stay at government schools on closer to 9,000 per month, not 6,000. Half officials on about 15,000 I think (no pension).

Averaged experienced teachers who are officials but never climb up the food chain (ie stayed teachers) may get around 45,000 just before retirement. Directors maybe 55,000 (I am sure someone else could clarify exact figures). Regional head maybe 65,000. To be hitting close to 80k we are probably talking Ministry level (plus they get a few nice bonus from the companies who supply the materials - tea money). Maybe she meant 7,500, but even that is too small. 

Correct me if I am wrong as I haven't been paying attention to this issue for a long, long time. Is it only one state (Queensland) in Australia that has introduced any laws re 'bikie gangs'? The opposition party wanted to get rid of them when they were introduced?  The Queensland commission also shifted their focus away from those laws and are reviewing them (they had already weakened their stances on many of the original proposals). I think the ACT looked at the same laws but the human rights watchdog said the low amount of crime doesn't justify the limiting of human rights. 

I was also under the impression that the modern 'bikie' is in their 20s to 30s and Middle Eastern. Not a go at people from the Middle East, but I thought the issue became about organised crime gangs from the region using the banner of 'bike gangs' to do what they would have already done anyway. I don't think they were even riding bikes, mostly driving cars. But due to the media distortion, all 'bikie gangs' ended up suffering in Queensland. Should have just been a direct focus, rather than trying to get everyone (probably a political move as everyone loves a good law and order policy). 

I have no issues with clubs if they keep to themselves. Used to date a club member's daughter in Australia, from what I saw he and his mates were just your everyday guys. I remember my cousin used to hang out with a lot of them, he used to say many of them are doctors, lawyers, accountants etc, guys with professional jobs. Even Google will tell people that.

Yes, a percentage of real 'bikies' are bad eggs. But the same percentage of my football and cricket teams were bad eggs as well. Does that make all sportsman criminals? Does seem a non-issue the media like to jump on. Bigger things to worry about in the world than 2 old men eating their lunch. 

If a family thing (Thai wanting things their way), I have found the following helps.

Sit down and discuss the research. Then observe and discuss the videos of crash tests. With any luck you would have already found a decent straight talking Western thinking paediatrician (took me a couple doctors to get that). Physically take them to the paediatrician for a chat (my paediatrician asks me to bring them now if I encounter any different beliefs). Thai generally don't like to query doctors, plus it always sounds nicer coming from another Thai. 

The mother-in-law used to refuse car seats (so I never left the driveway with her in the car). After doing the above steps she not only puts my daughter in the car seat, but also wears a seat belt herself if she ever is in the car with us. She also took my side when another visiting family member wanted to not put my newborn son in a car seat when going home from hospital. 

Just did the same process regarding delayed gratification and learning disappointment. I also play the Buddhist card that they should not just listen to tradition or gossip, but should always try and improve themselves through research.  

The Thai family will stick up and follow your direction as long as it is clarified/taught to them properly. I cant blame the mother-in-law, she didn't have the chances we do re education. But well done to her for making the effort to change her ways. 

17 hours ago, chrisinth said:

Thanks for that. It was one of the rabies scare threads that got me asking the question in the first place. Here in Phitsanulok (as far as I am aware) none of the vets, certainly not the one we use, issue any tags or other identifying media after the dogs have had their rabies shots.

 

In fact on an earlier thread I said that I wasn't aware that our dogs actually got the rabies shots, but it was explained that in November it is added to their 'cocktails'. So they are covered, but no external indication of this. In addition I wonder how they would control those people who administer their own shots for their pets; how would that work?

 

I would only be concerned if they ever got out for some reason and started roaming. This has never happened but, you never know if that day ever comes.

I think the idea would be that dogs must be vaccinated either by private vets (who would be given tags), or by officials. The law seems to be in its very early stages so still has a lot of areas to sort out if it is ever going to be effective. At the moment seems likely will end up one of those laws in existence but never enforced. Letters have been sent out to all relevant officials regarding the proposed introduction of it, but with very few details (like who will enforce it). 

If the dogs get out, many more things to worry about than this (cars, fights etc). The proposed fine is only a few hundred baht anyway. 

The guide dog point is a good point. I have a friend who has lived with a puppy in training and recently it was time to move on. She was more sad than the dog, as the dog has happily fitted into a new family.

Few breeds have difficulties changing owners. Your standard modern breed, that is well socialised, should have no problems settling into a new home. I say modern, as most dogs do not fit into the description Google gives anymore as the majority of lines aren't working. Most lines today have been adapted to be more socially acceptable/friendly (aiding re homing).

The dog is far worse off and more unhappy if it has to live in a confided space with its original owner, than in a big space with an owner who is just as loving. Personally, I feel that is a selfish view from the owner. That is, not giving the chance for a dog to have the best life it can just because it will make you sad not being with it. The dog will move on and be just as happy. You may not, but again it is the dog that matters here, not the person. 

Even dogs that are considered the hardest to re-home, so working guardian type breeds, can be successfully re-homed if the new family has experience and understands what needs to be done. It obviously takes many months, but can be done. 

*But yes, don't get a dog if you aren't prepared to be with it until it dies or if you don't have the space/means for it to live a quality life. 

Vet should be able to figure out a way to send blood to Bangkok for testing by PCR. Co-infections exist in Thailand, however, your standard vet clinics can only test for so much. I would be sending blood off if my dogs ever tested positive to anything.  

Haven't been on ThaiVisa for quite a while. My province situation is this. They are thinking about introducing a law where dogs must be tagged, but I think that is purely to show whether or not they have the rabies vaccine. The fine for not having the tag is minimal, however, a fake tag will result in imprisonment for a month or so. 

But in saying all of that, their is currently no one to enforce that law. The Vet Office would basically need a team to drive around looking for dogs, which isn't going to happen. The question has been asked who will enforce the law, no department has yet found an answer (Vet, Disease Control, Tessaban, Public Health, Police). 

Breed of dog has nothing to do with it as all dogs are capable of harming/killing kids. Look at countries with dangerous dog legislation, they banned Pitbulls, but bite stats went up so are looking to allow them again. Roughly 427 dogs in my village, my two dogs are always targets as they are the only dogs that never socialise with the rest. However, they have the least chance of ever being attacked or attacking anyone due to never being allowed out without me. 

If the dog attacked your Poodle on your land or if your dog was leashed on public land then fair game to complain. If the dog attacked the Poodle when the Poodle was out of the gate and wasn't leashed then it is your own fault. We live in Thailand, the government doesn't hold our hand in every walk of life like back home, so you need to step up yourself to protect your own dogs. 

 I have been on holidays so haven't watched the news much, but looked at some today. As far as I can see from the very limited press on this particular story (mostly provincial local papers, not 'wide' press - *please link if it is as I have amazingly missed it), dogs that showed any symptoms similar to rabies were sent to the above facility. Which, to me, is understandable considering the previous tactics of killing dogs that could not be quarantined was met with backlash from animal groups. The only other press on the story that I can see comes from similar dog type organisations who have just received information from Soi Dogs, so it is only a one sided piece. 

From the local authorities perspective, policies of what they want to do haven't gone into effect yet (they are currently talking through it - so vaccine, tag, neuter/spay dogs and introduce fines), and people refuse to keep their gates closed (impossible to quarantine owned dogs, let alone strays), so they were limited in what they could do. Majority also have a zero budget so local quarantining is not possible. Everyone also knows that the rabies vaccines for most of the NE are still not ready (until this day), so vaccination of a majority of street and owned dogs was not possible (as what they have thought they have done previous years). So if rabid dogs were running loose (as they were at least in the province the shelter is located), then a fair chunk of the dog population was not protected (outside 3-5kms anyway). That is a legitimate scare to me. 

Soi Dogs Foundation position I find hard to understand though. They wrote to me explaining their position of why they think there is no rabies outbreak this year (which to me seemed rather simplistic as it ignored obvious variables). Then when I discussed the variables they missed out on they acknowledged them; that vaccines over the last few years have been sub-par (not worked), corrupt scandals, but also added that it was the authorities who spread the panic about the rabies scare. From what I saw the authorities were finding every silver lining that could be found as they have stuffed it up so much by not checking vaccines. If vaccines haven't been working over the last few years and numbers are up to 4 times higher and rabies is in provinces that it hasn't been for 12+ years or areas that it has never been, well to me, that is an outbreak. The foundation's stance of calling something not an outbreak just because their was more numbers 38 years ago lacks critical thinking, as numbers can spike very quickly if the conditions are right (as they have started to this year with right conditions - fake vaccines leading to unprotected dogs, no real vaccines ready (3-4 months overdue), and a failure for many areas to implement free neuter/spay in recent times, so the thousands puppies/kittens over the last few years have never received any working vaccination). 

From what I have seen, rabies programs were planned to be run on their natural calendar (same time every year), and it wasn't until the spike in figures of infected animals that the local governments tried to push these programs a month earlier (which to me is completely fair enough and logical). Obviously, this didn't happen and still hasn't happened in the majority of the NE due to no access to vaccines. It is indeed a sad story, a story that should not have come about, but I think the foundation has been quite misleading with this one.   

1 hour ago, Johnniey said:

My dogs are rarely outside my gated property. There's a big difference between a poodle type dog and a killer pitbull terrier. Anyway, it's the noise at night which is most annoying.

 

 

 

I don't really buy into the Pitbull bashing. But in the case of Thailand, with all the diseases around that dogs can pick up and give to both other dogs and humans, I don't think there is much of a difference whether it is a Pitbull type dog or Poodle type dog. The fact of the matter is all dogs should always be behind gates. Plus, it would help your case if you are seen as a responsible owner. 

4 hours ago, Oxx said:

(1) The link makes it absolutely clear in the first paragraph that this is referring to the North East.

 

(2) You appear not to follow the news in Thailand.  This has been widely reported in both Thai and English language press.

 

(3) The scare is indeed exaggerated.  Statistically the rabies situation is no worse than in previous years.

 

(4) The foundation is credible.  My only gripe with them is that they put SCAD (Soi Cats And Dogs) out of operation in circumstances that were never clear.

Yes, it makes it clear that it is in the NE. However, the rabies situation can be very different depending on where the exact province is. The main issue it seemed people had with the story was not being able to fact check the exact province to find out the true rabies situation. Finally, when they did say the exact province (after many people had asked), a quick search showed the true situation (rabid dogs running around attacking people and other dogs).

For example, one reason why Disease Control came to my province yesterday was to investigate why there is so many cases of rabies here but why their hasn't been any human deaths. So looking at differing local authority implementations and education programs and matching them against other provinces. Our immediate area has never had a case of rabies before, this year 4 dogs already have tested positive. My province hasn't had a rabies case for 12 years, this year in the first 4 months over 20. 

If I can quote The Nation, from March 9th this year:

'According to statistics, the infection rate this year is much worse than in the previous years, as there have been 178 cases of rabies reported in February compared to only 79 cases in February 2017, 47 cases in February 2016 and 40 cases in February 2015'.

These stats say that the problem is indeed twice as worse as last year, and four times worse than 2015, exaggerated? Maybe not high compared to 1980 (which the foundation reference), but I think that is too simplistic to look at it that way due to the obvious variables that can make it spike again (fake vaccines, corruption, lack of education etc). 

*Please link the English and Thai news reports of this story. I would be interested to see them. 

 

https://us8.campaign-archive.com/?e=[UNIQID]&u=602549a912c4969971dde5370&id=50395d128b

Not sure if the above link is allowed, but I am frequently seeing this Soi Dog Foundation campaign pop up on other social media sites. The quarantine facility that authorities rounded up 3,000 dogs is apparently in Nakhon Phanom. They seem to hide that unless you directly ask them where the facility is, it took a few times of me and others asking them to get a response. 

Why this campaign has particularly disturbed me is, one, every post about the story doesn't actually involve any facts; just photos, emotive/guilt tripping language and no less than 5 hyperlinks to donate. But what was more concerning was the fact they have repeatedly used the phrase 'exaggerated rabies scare'. Whether a 2 sentence or 2 paragraph introduction, that phrase is the main point.

For starters, how can any rabies scare ever be exaggerated? Also, as one survey in the NE showed the majority of the population do not understand the medical implications (death) of the disease. Also, companies have only just released the municipality orders of vaccines, which the vet office have pulled rank over and taken themselves. So it isn't till probably June the free vaccine program will commence again in most of the NE (leaving many animals not protected). 

It seems many people are starting to question the legitimacy of this organisation on social media. I have only had one dealing with them (through email) when I looked into adoption. Does anyone actually know about this story?  Or indeed, how credible the foundation is?  

My initial thought is that they have left out a huge amount of details for the donations. From my understanding a dog that ended up being positive for rabies in Nakhon Phanom, bit one man and went around attacking other people and dogs. If we combine that with the fact some local departments just found out recent years vaccines have been fake (Soi Dog Foundation acknowledges this), then surely any government response is better than nothing. But to ignore these details, and just say 'exaggerated rabies scare' is quite shocking. Does anyone know what is happening with this facility? The wife had the Disease Control Office meet with her today as they are using our province to trial some educational programs about rabies and the Minister of Public Health is coming to visit her in 2 weeks about rabies. Rabies is not at all exaggerated. 

I always respected the Soi Dog Foundation, but it seems they are misrepresenting the rabies situation in the country for donations, which personally, I think is not right. I am obviously more than happy to be corrected if this isn't the case. 

Responsibility of the Local Health Officer (as one of the early replies stated). Would be helpful to get your dogs in line (behind gates) before complaining. And, yes, farang have a right to complain (many on here for some reason believe they do not).

Someone complained about my dogs. The officer (also the owner of the dogs) recorded a video. She only played the audio first. The person complaining said that is definitely the bark. Officer then showed the video of the two dogs sleeping as the barking was going on. 

Person complaining apologised and then withdrew the complaint (was more personal than actually being worried about the real culprit dog). It is more of a farang/Thai Visa myth that you shouldn't complain and it is better to move house (to more barking dogs). Thai people live quite happily with noisy dogs, but there is also no shortage of these sorts of complaints coming from the locals that are investigated by the relevant authorities.

To the negative people...What is the worst that can happen? You get a lazy official and things stay the same? The best that can happen? The problem is resolved. So why not try (can be an anonymous complaint)? To the super negative people who think the neighbour is going to kill you for complaining, well, if you live with such fear where something as small as this is so troublesome for you, then I would start to re-think if the country is really for you. 

I thought the context was pretty clear, but moving away from that, The Vet Ministry sent out letters to departments today about every dog/cat in the near future needing to have vaccination tags attached to them and if they don't the law is to be enforced. I haven't looked into it yet, but from the initial details I have heard it is fines of 200 baht, and fake tags resulting in one month imprisonment. 

It is the enforcing part that will be interesting, I don't really understand who will do it. The Vet Office? Doubtful. The police? Highly doubtful. Municipalities? With their no fine powers and Mayors not wanting to get police to do it due to fear of losing votes. Hopefully, it ends up a useful law. I wouldn't hold my breath.

6 minutes ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

I'm not sure exactly how the questions in this survey were worded, but a person who has been infected with rabies can be successfully treated if the correct vaccinations are given quickly enough. Death is only guaranteed if the person is not treated before clinical symptoms appear.

I think if they 'wrongly' thought it could be cured, then the assumption must be made that the questions must have stated that symptoms were present. 

A very sad story indeed, but with any hope something positive can come out of it. The awareness/education that any lick on an open wound, scratch or bite needs to be seen to by medical staff and how important animal vaccination is. I read one survey that found 60% of 11,369 Thai participants wrongly thought rabies could be cured, and additionally, 34% didn't know death was guaranteed. Also 60% of infected animals had owners. 

Vaccine companies still have not given many Tessabans their orders. They have now postponed releasing the vaccine until this May. All it takes is a few years of fake vaccines, budgets being redirected into other projects, and a lack of education and something that was getting close to some sort of control is starting to unwind. 

Just now, tumama said:

 

Well from the time I intervened to the time I left her, she told me she wanted to press charges. The girl was scared to death. Never seen anything like it before except in horror movies. 

So let the officials handle it now. He will probably have to pay her and them more than he can afford. And they will tell him to stay away. Many on here call that corruption, but it is something, generally, all 3 parties are happy with and agree on to avoid court processes. 

Not much point getting more involved than you have to.

I stopped one once in the street back in Australia to help a girl. An old guy nearby who had worked in the emergency services his whole life spoke to me. He said don't bother intervening in relationship disputes. He was always getting called out to them and you soon learn on the job there is no point taking a beating because the girl always goes back to them the next day. 

Of course, if you are seeing a girl take a beating it is hard not to naturally help her. When I first arrived in Thailand I helped a girl. She was screaming, crying, thinking she was going to die etc. Got her and put her in the car, where the Mrs was. The Mrs told her, we will go to the police. She said no. Mrs said, my uncle is boss of the police, so I can make sure they will definitely help you. She outright refused to go to the police and instead (after 10 or so minutes) asked to be dropped off at a restaurant within walking distance of where the abuse took place in the first place.

I still would intervene, but don't bother taking it any further after she is safe. Well done for intervening, but it is just being a unnecessary hero to continue with it. There is systems (official and not official) in place to deal with these things, if she doesn't take them up then not much you can do. 

The government hospital in our province has been fine for delivering both our children. The doctors at the main private hospital we go to work at the government hospital anyway. However, we delivered our children with a clinic doctor the wife saw throughout the pregnancy. Private room for both kids. Free of charge due to her work (just had to pay for the clinic doctor). 

For me, I am happy to go to the government hospital for general things. Anything too serious I go to the next province (khon Kaen Hospital). 

Government hospitals are free for me so I tend to choose them. Private hospitals are only better in the sense you can build a closer relationship with the doctor. I am on email terms with my baby's doctor, and when I was sick she was in contact with the doctors in Khon Kaen to make sure I was getting looked after. Also, if our kids ever needed any scans or tests she would write them up to have them done at the government hospital (free) on the days she volunteered there. Unfortunately, she is moving to Bangkok Hospital Pattaya ICU, but she still frequently emails me to see how my family is going. 



 

36 minutes ago, Arjen said:

in my language we call it also "puppy scabies"

I think it is slightly different in English. We call Demodectic 'puppy mange'. Scabies usually refers to sarcoptic mange from memory. 

Ah, the dog must be in the minority with the genetic factors that don't allow it to build up an immune response. 

If not too far away, the government vet office will also do house calls.

It has probably been 18 months since I researched it, but from memory my understanding of it is that every single dog in the world has the mites. However, depending on the immune system will depend of if they develop into localised or generalised mange or the body keeps the mites under control. That is why it is big in puppies as the immune system hasn't kicked in yet. Once the dog is cleared of mange, usually the immune response from the dog is strong enough for it never to return again. However, your odd dog has genetic downfalls that compromise its immune system so will continue with it and get re-infected. That is why breeding is not recommended for any dog that ends up with any sort of mange, regardless if it is treatable or not. 

If the dog was healthy during puppy hood and then gets it as an adult, then that is problematic. That means a sudden weakness it its immune system - so basically the dog has some sort of disease. This could be anything from cancer, immune disorders or reactions to medications. So rather than focusing on the mites, the vet should be looking for the potential underlying cause of why it has appeared. 

29 minutes ago, Arjen said:

The vet checked skin sample with microscope, and found Dermodex. After many treatments the symptoms are still more or less the same.....

 

 

How old is the dog?

4 hours ago, meatboy said:

what we did buy about 8yrs.ago was 2 x hatari POWER WIND FANS with 18inch blades.wherever the dog laid in the morning these fans would keep the mossy's away.

Used one of them today. We currently have someone cutting the grass, so they have to be put away in their cage. I watered down the whole cage, the top of the roof, the roof inside, the walls and the floor. With that, their pool with the frozen bottle in it and the fan they were very happy. Weren't even panting...about 36 degrees here today. 

Make sure you do the skin samples under the microscope. That is the only accurate way to see if the drugs are working or not.