Soi Dog pursue successful case of pet abandonment against Phuket expat

 

 

A Phuket Ex pat got more than he bargained for when he took the decision to abandon his pet dog ‘Jonney Cash’ in a heavy storm on the road outside Soi Dog Foundation’s shelter. After dumping the dog on September 19 and driving off, little did he know that his actions were clearly caught on CCTV. Nor that a member of Soi Dog staff saw what had happened and rescued the dog that was running down the road vainly trying to catch up his with beloved owner, and in danger of being hit by traffic.

 

 

As well as being a cruel and despicable act, abandoning a dog is also illegal in Thailand. Thachatchai police later tracked down ‘Mr.R’, an Irishman who has lived in Phuket for a number of years, and filed charges against him under The Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animal Act.

 

Pleading guilty, he was fined 2,000 THB by the court and his information and fingerprints recorded into the criminal record system. From now, if he comes to Thailand and requests for a criminal background check, this record will be shown.

 

 

Deputy Superintendent Watcharin Jirattikarnpiwat of Thachatchai Police Station confirmed that ‘Mr.R’ had paid a fine and received a criminal record already. He added that “One of the main stray dog problems in Thailand is because lack of pet owner responsibilities, and we hope that this story serves as an obvious example of legal action that will be taken against the abandoning of pet dogs and cats”.  Mr.Watcharin also urged the public to report any cases of pet animal abandonment to the police. “Animal Cruelty Acts might be a new thing for Thais compared with other laws. I am glad that the story will be published, this is not just the duty of the police or of Soi Dog, everyone can step in. Because without society change, law change is useless”.

 

 

Asked to comment on the case, John Dalley MBE, President of Soi Dog Foundation International, remarked that although ‘Mr.R’ had written to him 2 weeks after the event, describing it as a moment of madness, it was noticeable that he never once asked if the dog had been found or if it was safe in the care of Soi Dog. “The CCTV footage clearly shows it as a premeditated act. Had it been a moment of madness then surely he would want to know that the dog was unharmed”.

 

Regarding the penalty, Mr. Dalley remarked that although he felt the fine imposed was derisory, when one considers it costs on average 2,700 THB per month to keep a dog at the shelter, it was very pleasing that the authorities had acted.

 

 

“If people have a genuine reason that they are unable to keep a pet, then we will always try to help. Dumping a dog in a strange environment in heavy rain, driving away and putting its life in danger are not the actions of a concerned owner”, Mr. Dalley added.

 

Click HERE for video

 

-- 2020-10-22

Because Thais care so much about their animals right ? ... give me a break...

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

As well as being a cruel and despicable act, abandoning a dog is also illegal in Thailand.

That is a laughable comment, dogs are abandoned here almost daily, nothing is ever done to the owners, except of course if they expats.

Embarrassed that an Irish guy did this.

I can sort of understand why Thais do it, most have no idea how to handle a dog (or, indeed, most aspects of life), but I'd expect more of a fellow Irishman.

He should actually be named-and-shamed so that it can be reported on the news back in Ireland and his family and friends get to hear about it. Now that would be a real disincentive.

There goes my respect for John Dalley MBE, President of Soi Dog Foundation International.   Snitchboy ...

55 minutes ago, englishoak said:

Because Thais care so much about their animals right ? ... give me a break...

So you think it's ok just to take your pets out and dump them once you have had enough of them ?

The criminal sense of a snitch will provide information to police in order to obtain lenient treatment for themselves and provide information over an extended period of time in return for money or for police to overlook their own criminal activities. Quite often someone will become an informant following their arrest.

In other words a snitch is not the innocent person who has a serial-killer living next door so he tells the police to get the trash out of the community, a snitch is one who is selling dope or doing some other bad thing and gets caught, but instead of taking their own punishment like a man, tell the authorities info on other criminals so they can get off scott free or reduce their own punishment. That's a Snitch!

 

Unless you understood what that means and know about something we don't... it doesn't make sense to read the article and call the guy a snitch, let alone a snitchboy.

 

Whereas, if it's someone who always feels the need to snitch, even when it really isn't their business, that would be a "Snitch-b*tch", not "Snitchboy".

 

Sorry if it looks like I'm trolling you, I actually learned a bit looking it up myself tbh, but it just doesn't seem right after reading the article to name the accuser a snitchboy, unless he really is one. Care to explain?

Well, I suppose you think you have a duty of care to those dependent on you or you don't. And I would put women in that category, non PC as that might be. Personally, I've always tried to avoid committment for precisely that reason - fat chance, life drags you in.

Spy dog foundation, only another few million cases to get through. At least the guy dropped off the dog at the right place, they love strays, where would they be without them?

It did not say in the article, and I don't condone what he did, but did he purposefully abandon the dog near the shelter in hopes it would be found by them (that would be my guess). 

 

Agree about this being routine practice in every small village. Millions of puppies abandoned to fend for themselves but lets make an example of the foreigner.

"considers it costs on average 2,700 THB per month to keep a dog at the shelter"   Say what???   What's the overhead at Soi Dog Foundation?

 

There are many Thai families that don't enjoy an income of 2,700 per person per month! 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

when one considers it costs on average 2,700 THB per month to keep a dog at the shelter.

Why does it cost so much?

Certainly not food costs, my 2 dogs are well fed, chicken bone mince/ rice/ complete  dog food.

Costs me around 30 baht per day for 2 dogs.

So how many staff employed? What are they paid ?

Or is the management of the shelter enjoying a very good lifestyle?

5 hours ago, colinneil said:

That is a laughable comment, dogs are abandoned here almost daily, nothing is ever done to the owners, except of course if they expats.

Well put! It is a disgrace the way the local population treat dogs, no responsibility but always someone to feed them leftover rice! Mongrel, scrawny dogs everywhere, barking at will, day and night and nobody cares! 

4 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

So you think it's ok just to take your pets out and dump them once you have had enough of them ?

 

I think you miss the point, there are abandoned soi dogs everywhere in Thailand and it is in 99.95% of cases, not foreigners who abandon them!

3 hours ago, johng said:

Queuing up to get in, anything for a free feed from dozy do gooders ????

Seems like another case of, "don't do what I do, do what I say".  Never heard of any Thais being prosecuted for doing the same, but then they just dump their dogs anywhere.

9 hours ago, Jack Mountain said:

There goes my respect for John Dalley MBE, President of Soi Dog Foundation International.   Snitchboy ...

 

When he learns the word "CULL" I may reassess his standing!

10 hours ago, webfact said:

As well as being a cruel and despicable act, abandoning a dog is also illegal in Thailand.

As so many other things are and over-looked in Thailand.

10 hours ago, webfact said:

As well as being a cruel and despicable act, abandoning a dog is also illegal in Thailand.

Now this is the laugh of the century, Thousands of Dogs are abandoned by Thais every day . That Are the Soi Dogs.

This doesn't make this  Expat look good .

Good job that he gets in trouble for this . 

 But the Thais They get a dog for a couple Months and  they Kick it out, No Food ,full of Ticks, Fleas, Mange,Worms . They should come down Hard on them too, But No they are thai. Lets get the Farang. 

11 hours ago, webfact said:

As well as being a cruel and despicable act, abandoning a dog is also illegal in Thailand. Thachatchai police later tracked down ‘Mr.R’, an Irishman who has lived in Phuket for a number of years, and filed charges against him under The Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animal Act.

 

Thai routinely dump animals at Buddhist temples or just dump them on the street.
In the entire time I've lived here I have never once heard of a Thai being prosecuted under the The Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animal Act for dumping animals.  Virtually every Thai Buddhist temple in Thailand is a testament to dumped animals - and yet!  But target the dirty, "cruel", bad farang for something Thais do routinely.  Thai get cute puppies, then when the puppy isn't cute anymore - they get dumped. 

Soi Dog Foundation. Great job.  How many Thais have you gone after?  Let us know your record for prosecuting Thais for dumping animals.  Until then:  You're off my list of charities. 

The guy is an ass for dumping his animal .  But this isn't a one-off event in Thailand.  Prosecuting someone is.  He took his dog to where it could receive care.  If he was really cruel he could have dumped it on the road.  My guess is he believed it would get care at Soi Dog Foundation.  I laud him for dropping the pet where it could get help instead of a hundred worse places.  If they start prosecuting people for dropping their pets off then future pet will be abandoned where they can't be helped.  Take the dog in and find it a home.  But no.  Gotta much sure the "bad farang" gets a criminal record. That was stupid.

11 hours ago, colinneil said:

That is a laughable comment, dogs are abandoned here almost daily, nothing is ever done to the owners, except of course if they expats.

 

That's because dogs are not owned here. They appear to stay and the householders feed them out of the goodness of their hearts. As they are not owned, or family pets, they cannot be abandoned. They just leave of their own accord.

10 minutes ago, Scott Tracy said:

 

That's because dogs are not owned here. They appear to stay and the householders feed them out of the goodness of their hearts. As they are not owned, or family pets, they cannot be abandoned. They just leave of their own accord.

Wow.  Talk about being an apologist for Thais who "feed them out of the goodness of their hearts" until they get tired of doing so.  "Thai who care for dogs aren't owners!"

Really. 

Thais raise roosters in every village and khet in Thailand for use in cock-fights throughout this entire country.  So tell me folks.  If the authorities are such bleeding heart animal lovers suddenly, then why not crack down cock-fights under the Animal Cruelty Act?  In my humble opinion animal fighting is just ugly, brutal forms of abject cruelty.  How many articles have we read on TV about how authorities filing criminal charges against Thais for putting fighting chickens in harms way?  About as often as we read articles about Thais being criminally charged for animal abandonment.  I'm sure that's different, right. 
I have a word for it: hypocrisy.

One last comment for SDF.  You guys could have done so much better!  Really!  This could have been resolved without filing criminal charges.  The owner could have been asked to support the animal until a home was found for it.   Or community service  helping with animals in lieu of criminal charges could have been arranged.  I see this done all the time here in Thailand where aggrieved party's work with the police and the accused to find solutions that don't involve saddling a Thai citizen with a criminal record.  What happened in this case? One set of rules to allow Thais to save face and keep from having a criminal record, another set of rules for the "ugly" foreigners where they go full Machiavellian on the accused in order to "make an example."  He was a farang so throw him against the wall?  How often are Thais paraded around in front of the public in order to "make and example" of them?  Pretty much never.  This whole situation stinks. 
I take care of close to 20 animals myself.  My own pets (many of whom we have taken in off the streets) and I provide direct support for the care of quite a few temple dogs.  Funds out of my own pocket and care out of my own heart.  I don't get any accolades, or pats on the back, or awards.  I do it out of compassion.  And if someone drops off an animal on our doorstep - we care for it.   We don't go looking to throw people into the criminal justice system. 

 Phuket Ex pat got more than he bargained for when he took the decision to abandon his pet dog ‘Jonney Cash’ in a heavy storm on the road outside Soi Dog Foundation’s shelter. 

 

This person is soooooooooo dumb, they can't even spell "Johnny Cash" correctly. ????

Call time on stray dogs now.  They are a dirty menace. Thailand is backward on this issue. Children getting bitten daily by soi dogs  ! <deleted> and <deleted> all over the place in parks and recreation areas.

The way I see it, if it wasn't for farangs there would be an even bigger problem with stray dogs, common knowledge that Thai's dump their dogs down at the temple one near me has packs of dogs roaming around.

5 hours ago, Postmaster said:

Call time on stray dogs now.  They are a dirty menace. Thailand is backward on this issue. Children getting bitten daily by soi dogs  ! <deleted> and <deleted> all over the place in parks and recreation areas.

Our local orbortor now bans people from taking their dogs down the beach, but does <deleted> all about all rabid wild dogs running around down the beach

Am i missing something? Is this article about the Soi Dog Foundation and/or it's founder? Thought it was about a <deleted>ty Irishman  who threw his dog away like garbage in front of the Soi Dog Foundation. Didn't bother to knock on the door probably afraid it would cost money! That would be a beer less! What an <deleted>! 

Soi Dog foundation.

Another self-righteous, self-indulgent group of persons making a living out of mutt misery, instead of addressing the root cause of a problem.

When was the last time, (or hundreds of thousands of times) when this money seeking organisation pushed for a Thai prosecution?

Foreigners only, and I don't condone what the mick did.

The answer is clear.

Eradicate the verminous and often dangerous dogs from every soi and every village in the country.

Put compulsive dog licensing by owners into law. Big financial penalties for not doing so.

Post-Covid employment for many canine Inspectors to enforce the law.

Or just shoot the degusting creatures and grind them into cat food.