Bangkok's New Pet Rules: Microchips and Space Restrictions for 200,000 Cats and Dogs

[snoop1130]

File photo for reference only

 

Bangkok’s city authorities are rolling out new pet regulations, giving tens of thousands of residents one year to comply. With around 200,000 cats and dogs living in the city, including 29,000 strays, the aim is to manage the growing stray population and hold pet owners responsible for their animals.

 

Key Changes: Microchipping and Ownership Limits

 

Under new rules, all pet dogs and cats must be microchipped. This microchipping requirement, championed by Bangkok Metropolitan Council’s first vice chairman Napapon Chirakul, is part of a draft regulation recently approved and now awaiting the signature of Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt.

 

Once the regulation is published in the Royal Gazette, pet owners will have a 360-day grace period to comply. After this, owners with unchipped pets will face penalties under the Public Health Act for any problems or nuisances caused by their animals.

 

The regulation also limits the number of pets one can own, based on their living space:

 

• Condo residents with 20-80 square meters can keep one pet, with the possibility of applying for a second.
• Homes with up to 20 square wa (80 sqm) can accommodate two pets, with larger spaces allowing more animals.
• The largest homes (over 100 square wa) can house up to six pets.

 

These limits aim to reduce nuisances like noise and waste and address hygiene concerns. Existing pet owners with multiple animals do not need to reduce their numbers.

 

 

Breed-Specific Measures

 

For breeds prone to aggression—such as Pit Bull Terriers and Rottweilers—and any dogs with violent histories, stricter controls are in place. These dogs must wear muzzles and be leashed with a one-meter lead in public, responding to recent dog attack incidents leading to severe injuries.

 

Addressing the Stray and Shelter Capacity Issue

 

Responding to community complaints, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is tackling the stray dog situation by taking in and sterilizing stray, dangerous, or abandoned dogs. Their main shelter in Prawet has space for about 1,000 dogs, insufficient for the demand. A second shelter in Uthai Thani provides additional capacity for 6,400 more dogs.

 

These measures reflect a comprehensive strategy to manage the city's pet and stray animal population responsibly, focusing on accountability and safety for residents and animals alike.

 

-- 2024-11-29

 

 

[proton]

Kill anything on sight without a chip would be helpful. Nobody will take any notice as they don't now. Man moved into SIL village with over 30 dogs in a small house, no garden, says its up to him. Sansiri as well who enforces rules, but not for the stinking, yapping 'fur babies', noise is horrendous.

[richard_smith237]

So...  An announcement of another set of rules that will be completely ignored.... Thai authorities can't even get everyone to wear a helmet and stop drink driving !!!!

 

Only when removing strays becomes profitable will anything be done - and we know how that works, but its barbaric... nevertheless, a solution. 

 

Any owned dog must have a collar or its removed - its that simple. 

Any owned dog with a collar has a responsible owner, if the dog bites, the owner is charged accordingly.

 

 

There is another concurrently running story of two dogs which were poisoned - we all can guess why.

[lordgrinz]

Wondering if my dogs microchip from USA would be sufficient, actually not sure how long they last, its been in there for almost 13 years. He was a rescue dog, so actually he has two chips already.

Edited 1 hour ago by lordgrinz