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.

[watchcat]

 

Cute picture.

[jcmj]

So try to control the owners of the dogs, but leave the soi dogs roaming around. Makes no sense. Sure owners should have their dogs collared and be responsible for any harm done by them, but the stray dogs get to run around barking, biting and chasing cars and motorbikes. They tried to do the spay and neuter here, but didn’t get all of the dogs and now we have 14 roaming our sou with 3-4 new puppies. They are aggressive and kill neighbors cats and try to attack my dog when I’m walking him. I have to carry a stick and if they get in his face with teeth showing they will get a swift stick to the head. No safety concerns whatsoever for the residents and their pets. 

[WDSmart]

I don't object to the chip policy, but I do object to the classifying of certain breeds of dogs as "prone to aggression." I do support the neutering of strays instead of killing them. 

[Classic Ray]

I support microchipping for dogs and cats, to ensure owners can be traced, but cats pose little nuisance to anyone compared to dogs. 
 

It would be better if the feral cat population was controlled to avoid their horrible lifestyles.

[Drumbuie]

17 minutes ago, WDSmart said:

I don't object to the chip policy, but I do object to the classifying of certain breeds of dogs as "prone to aggression." I do support the neutering of strays instead of killing them. 

Some breeds have been deliberately bred to be aggressive for use as guard dogs, in dog-fighting, to bolster fragile human egos,  etc. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated_silver_fox

Experiments with foxes have also shown how easy this is to do. 

 

So yes, it's reasonable to classify certain breeds as "prone to aggression". 

 

[Dionigi]

cats should be kept on leads, like they have to be in some countries, not allowed to roam at random, defecating and urinating in my garden.

[proton]

36 minutes ago, WDSmart said:

I don't object to the chip policy, but I do object to the classifying of certain breeds of dogs as "prone to aggression." I do support the neutering of strays instead of killing them. 

 

Neuter the bastards then kill them, just to be on the safe side 

[WDSmart]

11 minutes ago, Drumbuie said:

Some breeds have been deliberately bred to be aggressive for use as guard dogs, in dog-fighting, to bolster fragile human egos,  etc. 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domesticated_silver_fox

Experiments with foxes have also shown how easy this is to do. 

 

So yes, it's reasonable to classify certain breeds as "prone to aggression". 

 

I disagree... 

[WDSmart]

2 minutes ago, proton said:

 

Neuter the bastards then kill them, just to be on the safe side 

Disgusting! But it's not surprising because, according to your icon, you are a Trump supporter. 

[KannikaP]

5 minutes ago, proton said:

 

Neuter the bastards then kill them, just to be on the safe side 

Why neuter them if they are to be killed?

[300sd]

I have seen how many people treat their dogs in Thailand. Every house around me has a dog or two. It's sad. The dogs are constantly having health problems since the owners only use them for security reason. The health problems are not usually addressed. Most don't deserve to own a dog.

[300sd]

6 minutes ago, WDSmart said:

Disgusting! But it's not surprising because, according to your icon, you are a Trump supporter. 

Your post is disgusting!

[Theforgotten1]

Not going to stop Thais dumping there puppy’s in the sois 

[steven100]

1 hour ago, WDSmart said:

I don't object to the chip policy, but I do object to the classifying of certain breeds of dogs as "prone to aggression." I do support the neutering of strays instead of killing them. 

 

you support neutering soi dogs so they can continue to cr_p everywhere,  chase kids on bikes and bite and attack elderly folks walking in their soi.  ?

 

very strange and sad way of dealing with them,   lacks common sense.   Just get rid of them.  They are disgusting. 

[jippytum]

The rule concerning dogs  in condos  only applies to condos that allow pets. 

Thankfully most do not. 

[WDSmart]

Just now, steven100 said:

 

you support neutering soi dogs so they can continue to cr_p everywhere,  chase kids on bikes and bite and attack elderly folks walking in their soi.  ?

 

very strange and sad way of dealing with them,   lacks common sense.   Just get rid of them.  They are disgusting. 

Yes, neuter them and then find them homes. Don't release them back in the streets. 

So you think chasing kids on bikes and attacking elderly folks is worse than killing? Your post is disgusting. 

[NedR69]

12 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

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.

Your dogs with microchips from the US are fine, they all work the same.  

The handheld reader scans the area of chip placement and displays the number. 

[proton]

2 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Why neuter them if they are to be killed?

 

Just for the fun of it

[lordgrinz]

21 minutes ago, NedR69 said:

Your dogs with microchips from the US are fine, they all work the same.  

The handheld reader scans the area of chip placement and displays the number. 

 

I'll have to register both numbers, as it got confusing back in the states too. That's how we found it, the vet got different numbers on a few different visits while scanning.

[black tabby12345]

After this, owners with unchipped pets will face penalties under the Public Health Act for any problems or nuisances caused by their animals.

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In other words, is the pet owner's  responsibility waived even if the animal causes any problem IF the creature is already ID implanted?

[black tabby12345]

Looks like another Just-In-Name Legislation.

 

Their chief aim is undoubtfully the Fee they collect for microchip implant.

Electronic ID  tags under the skin, would not stop dogs from harming people.

 

Untrained and Unleased dogs can pose threat to the passersby any time.

And that is why I always carry a meaning of Instant Punishment.

 

 

 

[dinsdale]

More hot air from the corrupt. TIT. Nothing will change. If they were serious they should simply neuter the the strays. Dart, neuter, release. This of course would cost money rather than generate it. I know it's not as easy as I say but it would be a start.

[black tabby12345]

Thai bureaucrats always talk about the rules impossible to enforce.

Who will ever check out around whether cats and dogs are wearing microchips under the skin?

Door-to-door search for Cross-referring the property size and numbers of allowed pet?

Sh*t in their skull instead of brain.

[Ben Zioner]

Good, but then why only Bangkok? I have never been threatened in Sukhumvit, while I have been chased several times by packs of dogs when cycling in the Isan countryside.