Reports of poisoned stray dogs outrage animal-rights groups

By MAYUREE SUKYINGCHAROENWONG 
THE NATION

 

 

TEN animal-rights groups and other animal lovers will rally outside the head offices of the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) in Bangkok at 1pm today to object to DLD officials’ “cold-hearted” slaughter of dogs, Watchdog Thailand legal assistant and veterinarian Pattaranan Sajarom said yesterday.
 

“We believe the DLD wants to eradicate stray cats and dogs and take the opportunity of rabies zone declarations to round them up and take them away – which is not an appropriate solution for Thai society, so groups have to come out urgently to object to this,” she said. 

 

Pattaranan said she hoped the DLD would stop rounding up animals and enter discussions with animal-rights groups to find other solutions to the rabies issue. The groups would also discuss a plan to petition HM the King on Friday about the DLD’s “over-reaction”, she said.

 

Pattaranan said many strays that had already been vaccinated were caught and taken to unknown destinations, with many fearing they had already been killed. 

 

 

The 10 groups are Save Elephant Foundation, SOS Animals Thailand, Hope Thailand, A Call For Animal Rights Thailand, Thai Love Animals, Man That Rescued Dogs, Pac Pattaya, Dog Nation, Soi Dogs Matter and Watchdog Thailand.

 

The protest came after the recent fatal poisoning of dogs at two temples in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Thung Song district.

 

Meanwhile, Siripong Polsiri, acting provincial DLD office chief, and Mesayon Chevasereichon, at the DLD Animal Health Promotion Division, said Nakhon Si Thammarat had rabies outbreaks in seven locations with two in Thung Song, two in Cha-uat and one each in Thung Yai, Chlabhon and Chalerm Phrakiat. Another 23 districts were considered at risk. 

 

 

The two veterinarians said the operation at the temple was necessary after a dog, which had bitten three people and later died, was confirmed to have rabies and known to mingle with other dogs at the temple. 

 

Siripong also dismissed accusations that the operation was in line with a “set zero” policy to eradicate strays.

 

 

Pattaranan said the groups would also send representatives this weekend to file a police complaint over the incidents, in which stray dogs at Wat Khok Sathon School and Wat Khao Pridi were allegedly killed by DLD officials who fed them poisoned food. 

 

Pattaranan said only veterinarians were allowed by law to euthanise animals. 

 

The Facebook page of the SOS Animals Thailand NGO posted about the Thung Song incidents based on a complaint by an unnamed foreigner in the province saying that the dogs, which had been vaccinated against rabies, were killed. 

 

The 10 groups also on Monday issued an urgent plea on the Watchdog Thailand Facebook page for foreigners living in Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Hua Hin district to claim “ownership” of stray dogs being rounded up there to prevent the animals from being euthanised. 

 

They said DLD officials had rounded up stray dogs – most of which were wearing tags to show they had been vaccinated against rabies – in the neighbourhood of a house whose owner died from a cat bite. 

 

They expressed doubt about livestock officials’ claims that the dogs would be kept at a quarantine centre in Phetchaburi and then sent to a government-run animal shelter in Buri Ram. The groups suspected instead that the dogs would be euthanised as per the rabies-control law.

 

They said Western expatriates who had been feeding the strays should claim to “own” the dogs to save them from being put down.

 

An official at the Hua Hin DLD Office, speaking on condition of anonymity, warned that legal action would be taken against anyone attempting to obstruct rabies-control efforts. 

 

They could be charged with violating the animal-cruelty act, which prohibits pet owners from releasing their animals on streets, the official said.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30341364

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-03-21

Somebody dies of a cat bite so dogs have to die? Land of Stupid!

Not  allowed under Junta  rules surely, how about they put their pathetic  efforts into something "actually" worthwhile instead of mangy dogs.

But nobody seems mooved by the rabies outburst ?

 

Dogs do happen to carry the disease also....and maybe some are unaware, but there do happen to be a considerable amount of stray soi dogs that are potential vectors of the plague....so what comes first ? Dogs ? Humans ? Public sanitary safety ?

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The two veterinarians said the operation at the temple was necessary after a dog, which had bitten three people and later died, was confirmed to have rabies and known to mingle with other dogs at the temple. 

 

2 hours ago, fasteddie said:

Somebody dies of a cat bite so dogs have to die? Land of Stupid!

There have been incidences from dog bites and one would expect dogs to be more of an issue. I am for ridding the place of infected dogs and cats and sadly suspected cases too.

3 hours ago, webfact said:

allegedly killed by DLD officials who fed them poisoned food. 

yeah i imagine championing animal rights in a place like thailand would be a tough gig

5 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

 

There have been incidences from dog bites and one would expect dogs to be more of an issue. I am for ridding the place of infected dogs and cats and sadly suspected cases too.

I agree; The question surely is when lives are at risk who is more important, Human lives or Stray Animal lives - for me its easy!!!

Edited March 21, 20188 yr by Geoffggi

Hopefully this will develop into a two horse race between those wanting to poison the damn things and the non hypocritical sector of the puppy panderers  brigade  rushing to adopt them

 

 

Don't see animal rights activists complaining about the horrendous conditions animals are kept in before slaughter.

Pigs are smarter than dogs, as if that matters. People are so uptight about wild dangerous dogs living in the streets but eat the meat of other animals. Pure hipocracy at it's best. Get rid of the dogs any way you can. Who said life is fair, especially here, it's not?

In my country you can shoot a cat or dog if it is in your property and not wear a collar with a tag of ownership....

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

They said Western expatriates who had been feeding the strays should claim to “own” the dogs to save them from being put down.

 

About time they were rounded up, spayed or neutered, and deported for overstraying.

Good to see some action being taken, too many animals on the loose. The country needs a cleanup. Pet owner.

Im all for it. I have 4dogs and love all animals but this is more than humans vs dogs and whos more important. This disease has to be eradicated in the most effective way. Sadly that does require  culling strays. Thais have themselves to blame and animal rights groups should understand whats needed. End of story.

"...object to DLD officials’ “cold-hearted” slaughter of dogs..."

good point. We need to work on "warm-hearted" slaughter

3 hours ago, fasteddie said:

Somebody dies of a cat bite so dogs have to die? Land of Stupid!

All dogs have four legs, that cat had four legs, therefore that cat is a dog. Thai logic is not difficult to understand? 

 

If all of these groups are so concerned about dogs then why haven't they done anything over the years to keep stray dogs from reproducing and creating this nuisance. It isn't just about rabies. There have been millions of dogs in this country for years that are strays and have no medical treatment, never received shots and are a dangerous presence on the streets. And when it comes to rabies, do you know that there is NO CURE for rabies. If you get infected by a rabid animal of any kind and do not immediately start a series of five shots then you will die. Period. These groups should stop complaining, if they're really serious about this problem, and do something to relieve it. Sterilizing every stray animal that they can would be a good start. 

If authorities do not act, then the public have too. Here´s the result! Live with it!

foot and mouth disease whole herds slaughtered and even on other farms, swine fever whole *herds* of pigs slaughtered, asain flue,  chicken flocks slaughtered, nothing much said, RABIES , so whats the problem,it is a KILLER.  animal right idiots, where were you lot when the dog problem started, we are over run in Thailand by wild dogs, or do you walk around with your <deleted> eyes shut, and yes i am a dog owner, mine is not left to run wild all day just because its got a collar on it, i walked up a dead end soi today and was chased by at least a dozen mangy dogs, who is to say one of these was not ridden with RABIES

I wouldn't hang my hopes too high they have the capabilities to solve the problem in a country where most 'parents' can't even take care of their 'stray kids'.

Edited March 21, 20188 yr by Lupatria

USA have the same type of animal rights group. However, I never see a stray dog/cat in USA. Owners keep them inside or within their yard. If a person in USA sees a collarless dog/cat they call the animal rights group. they send some out to round up the animal and take it away. xx days later if no one claims the animal it is put to death. bottom-line: the society is at risk when there are stray dogs/cats. my 8 year old daughter is scared to death of them when we take motorbike rides. I am too. if the society has the resources there should be no animals walking the streets without a home...this includes humans also.

There are no human rights here why would anyone think there would be animal rights.

Edited March 21, 20188 yr by ALLSEEINGEYE

Bla bla bla. Talk talk talk. Nothing happens. How about marking a dog when it receives vaccine? How about a law to fine people who let the dogs roam around? How about a chip for pets? Only in my small village there are at least 15 sick dogs... I hate it.

2 minutes ago, ALLSEEINGEYE said:

There are no human rights here why would anyone thing there would be animal rights.

Exactly

Wild dogs are a problem made by people. People need to take care if it.

 

But, it should be done nicely! Dogs are our friend!

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Pattaranan said only veterinarians were allowed by law to euthanise animals. 

Yes that maybe so but they do not want to help put a suffering animal to sleep.So what are you to do?

1 hour ago, BEngBKK said:

In my country you can shoot a cat or dog if it is in your property and not wear a collar with a tag of ownership.

Is that England you are talking about?

Edited March 21, 20188 yr by owl sees all

This is 100%,  the result of inaction for years

by government,  Do gooder's, and  people who are feeding wild dogs.

You silly billies. 

 

My friend just died from rabbies so as far as I am concerned if they are roaming around with no apparent owners to care for them get rid of them. Just came back from Hua hin and running all over the beach. All the bleeding hearts should think about it and how they would feel if their kids got bit.

 

36 minutes ago, DinoSabanovic said:

How about a chip for pets? Only in my small village there are at least 15 sick dogs... I hate it.

Oh come on, nice idea but,   TIT 

 

Edited March 21, 20188 yr by stanleycoin

While the animal rights groups are expressing their concerns, I guess they are also quickly doing something to protect the animals (and humans) by having the cats/dogs vaccinated or humanely euthanised?