Popular Post justanotheroldhippy Posted January 22, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted January 22, 2014 I’m probably going to end up getting death threats over this, but am I the only person that thinks Samui has a serious (and I mean SERIOUS) dog problem? I love dogs – had dogs all of my life, and have one now – but I think the situation on Samui is absolutely unacceptable. The ‘Dog Rescue’ people are unable to do anything about the long-term situation with abandoned/wild dogs on the island, effectively having turned their operation into a dog sanctuary for the dogs they are already stuffed to the hilt with, with people donating money to simply allow the dog lovers involved to live out their fantasies of being animal heroes and looking after ‘the poor little doggies’. There is a part of me that feels the dogs ‘on the outside’ have a better quality of life… after all, they can run around chasing bikes and ripping bin bags open! The dog rescue people are not being effective in any way as regards helping control the dog situation on the island. Then again, that is probably not a part of their ‘reason d’etre’. That said, neutering an animal before letting it run wild back on the roads of Samui is something, but it still leaves a dog wandering about. Although I am an animal lover by nature, I still put people first, and seeing a young couple (not just on holiday here, but on their Honeymoon, bless ‘em!) in hospital with serious injuries because their motorbike hit a dog that ran into the road is simply not acceptable. (I met them as I was visiting a relative in hospital… the young guy – an experienced bike rider – ended up with serious internal bleeding, requiring emergency surgery. At least they won’t forget their holiday on ‘beautiful Samui’!) I would love to know just exactly how many people have ended-up in hospital after hitting dogs on the road… or having lost control of their bikes because of a chasing dog… or have been bitten by a dog and had to get treatment (which would probably involve Rabies and Tetanus injections of course). Likewise the dogs that run wild on the beach… the so-called ‘beach dogs’ that some people fall in love with and want to rescue them back to their own country. Aren’t these the same sweet and lovable dogs that crap all over the beach (which nobody clears up of course), have fights with other dogs that wander into ‘their’ area (just hope you or your kids are nowhere near them), and scare the tourists (and their kids), and – at night, wander about ripping open bin bags and chasing motorbikes? If you take a walk along the main road of any of the popular areas in the early hours … Lamai, Chaweng, Nathon etc etc, you will see packs of dogs (I once counted a pack of 11 in Nathon at 2a.m. one morning) wandering around. Generally speaking Thai people in particular do very little in the way of training their dogs, and tend to limit their ownership responsibilities to feeding them… until they stop being cute puppies, which is when they are left to fend for themselves, or taken to the nearest temple. A partial solution is to start with any dog that chases bikes, or bites people… collect them up.. and put them down… just as they would do in Europe! I also remember the days in England when the ‘Dog Catcher’ would take any dog without a collar.. if it wasn’t claimed in 7 days it was put down. A collar also means that a dog owner has to take responsibility for their animal’s actions… so maybe enforcing a collar and tags is part of the answer? Those without collars? Well… remember the Dog Catcher? I think the situation is now verging on the ridiculous, and something needs to be done, despite the horrified screams of protests by those who seem to think that wild and/or untrained dogs have a right to do whatever comes naturally to them, and that it is us people that are the problem, not understanding the poor doggies. Don’t get me wrong, I do pity a lot of the dogs on the island, but that doesn’t mean that I can turn a blind eye to the problems they create. I think it is time it was decided whether Samui is a tourist island or a sodding dog sanctuary! I remember a visit to Sri Lanka quite some years ago, where they had an efficient way of dealing with all the wild dogs. The army snipers got in lots of practice by – once a month – going around shooting every dog that didn’t have a collar on (with owner’s details) or any dog that was obviously suffering in some way etc. Now I’m NOT saying that this should happen on Samui, but SOMETHING surely needs to be done. I also realize that there is conflict with the Buddhist ethics of living life too, which obviously makes any solution which includes killing animals very difficult… but this situation is obviously only going to get worse, and the dog rescue people are most certainly not part of any solution. As I love dogs, maybe I should fill my garden with ‘rescued’ dogs (I reckon I could fit around 50) and then call myself a dog rescuer and get people to donate funds to me so that I can continue with my ‘hobby’ of looking after a load of animals that have no future and live in over-crowded conditions? Never mind, it will make me feel like I’m doing something heroic with my life, ‘rescuing’ these poor animals - even though it does absolutely nothing to either help the problems caused by the 3,000 other poor little doggies outside my little sanctuary, or reduce their numbers! What is the answer? (Apart from everybody with a big garden becoming a dog rescue operation) I haven’t the faintest idea! (Pandora’s Box is now open!) 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battybird Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 That's a lot to think about and you've obviously thought long and hard about the problem because I agree it is one. I've just seen this so I am going to mull it over and reply tomorrow, but I basically agree that something more constructive needs to be done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John 1 Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 1st question why do you have a dog do you plan on staying for the next 10 years of the dogs life span or turn it loose when you leave?n the As for disposing of dogs read up on the Buddhist religion or go to the temple and ask them to kill some of the poor dogs they feed every day and wait for a reply just be ready to get on your bike. On the question about the Samui dog rescue have you called them and asked why they do what they do if not do so. Seem's like you just came on here for a bitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notmyself Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Better than it was 10-12 years ago. Was not unusual to see packs of 50+ dogs roaming the back streets. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justinnsamui Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) How do you stop dogs from XXXXX mating ?Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Edited January 22, 2014 by Rooo language Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samuijimmy Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 How do you stop dogs from XXXXX mating ? Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Have then neutered or Spayed... Some Thai's and Farangs do get that done, but too many don't unfortunately... It's free or cheap here to get it done... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noi657 Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) I've got a solution.. Move back to England! If not, xxxxx moaning!! Personally I commend these so called do-gooders from these animal charity's that only do it to make themselves feel better! They do what they can do with the resources and funds available. But so long as your ok jack,xxxxxxx everyone else eh! Edited January 23, 2014 by Rooo Swearing removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Mole Posted January 22, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) From my own first hands experiences with Samui Dog Rescue, I totally agree about OP's statement. I would even use harsher words, but better not to in here... They seems to always be too busy and overworked. Edited January 22, 2014 by Mole 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tropicalevo Posted January 22, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted January 22, 2014 A good post from the OP. As always, nothing to add from the tomato throwers. (You know who you are.) I too am a dog lover and I too have a dog. BUT what is happening here is not good from the 'stray dogs rife on Samui' point of view. There is no simple answer. Thai culture etc says to leave well alone. Feed the strays, do not put them down and let them have puppies to their heart's content. This is a recipe for disaster. All that the Dog rescue can do is to take them off the streets until they run out of space or money. It is not their fault. They are working with their hands tied. The problem is that very few people really care. Some see dogs as a fashion statement. (Old advert in the UK - 'A puppy is not just for Christmas!') Other 'do gooders' who are here on holiday - feed and protect the stray, until they leave and return to the homeland. (They rarely take their 'pets' back with them!) Result - a dog that gets vicious if a farang does not feed it! Or a dog that gets vicious if another dog wanders onto it's 'patch'! Either way - a vicious dog. To answer the OP's question about mb accidents re dogs - in 14 years of living here, I have had two mb accidents in total. Both because stray, savage dogs were chasing a smaller dog onto the road. First accident - 0 baht damage to bike - multiple vists to the hospital for me and her indoors. Second accident - 150 baht damage to the bike (broken brake lever) - 25,000 baht for repairs to my personal bodywork. In both cases - the accidents were at low speed, helmets being worn and all normal precautions taken. The dogs are dangerous. Stop being a "Aw ain't they cute" and start thinking about a long term solution. Next problem by the way - cats. One local resident near where I live bought a female cat. He refused to have it spayed. Now - we have 20 - 30 cats in the area! I am now training my dog to hunt cats! (Apologies to Bruno and mole.) 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saweden Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I really agree with you. I'm also sick of getting chased, growled and barked at every single day as I try to do my exercise. One of my dog loving friends and long time Samui resident offered to come along one day to show me how to properly behave in dog language (screaming, growling back and acting dominant) to show the dogs my right of being on their street. It works but I'd much prefer if I didn't have to do that. What worries me more is the owners complete inability to control their dogs. They often try to help and come out to scream at their dogs or try to put them inside but to absolutely no use. The dogs are masters up here in Phu Chaweng. Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opl Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) With so many hospitals and pharmacies on the island, I hope rabies vaccines are easily available, just in case... Edited January 22, 2014 by Opl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post AngThong Posted January 22, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted January 22, 2014 An efficient and island-wide sterilisation program is the only realistic long-term solution. To be successful, it requires lots of resources - vets to do the sterilisation, shelter where the dogs can recover post-op and, above all, people who bring in the dogs. I don't see it happening unless the local powers that be get seriously involved, and I don't know what it would take for them to do that. Probably a lethal dog-borne virus, in which case they wouldn't sterilise, they would annihilate. Buddhism or no Buddhism. What we can do is sterilise as many dogs (and cats) as we can. Catching a dog and bringing it to the vet is the easy part, taking care of the dog post-op when it's wearing a collar and needs to take meds is more time-consuming. Even if the entire expat community on Samui gets involved, you'll probably just make a dent in the general dog population. But a dent is better than a bulge... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notmyself Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 An efficient and island-wide sterilisation program is the only realistic long-term solution. To be successful, it requires lots of resources - vets to do the sterilisation, shelter where the dogs can recover post-op and, above all, people who bring in the dogs. I don't see it happening unless the local powers that be get seriously involved, and I don't know what it would take for them to do that. Probably a lethal dog-borne virus, in which case they wouldn't sterilise, they would annihilate. Buddhism or no Buddhism. What we can do is sterilise as many dogs (and cats) as we can. Catching a dog and bringing it to the vet is the easy part, taking care of the dog post-op when it's wearing a collar and needs to take meds is more time-consuming. Even if the entire expat community on Samui gets involved, you'll probably just make a dent in the general dog population. But a dent is better than a bulge... When someone is sitting on a piece of hot metal that is burning their ass and they refuse to get up to solve the problem, I am not going to pay for painkillers to ease their pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngThong Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 (edited) An efficient and island-wide sterilisation program is the only realistic long-term solution. To be successful, it requires lots of resources - vets to do the sterilisation, shelter where the dogs can recover post-op and, above all, people who bring in the dogs. I don't see it happening unless the local powers that be get seriously involved, and I don't know what it would take for them to do that. Probably a lethal dog-borne virus, in which case they wouldn't sterilise, they would annihilate. Buddhism or no Buddhism. What we can do is sterilise as many dogs (and cats) as we can. Catching a dog and bringing it to the vet is the easy part, taking care of the dog post-op when it's wearing a collar and needs to take meds is more time-consuming. Even if the entire expat community on Samui gets involved, you'll probably just make a dent in the general dog population. But a dent is better than a bulge... When someone is sitting on a piece of hot metal that is burning their ass and they refuse to get up to solve the problem, I am not going to pay for painkillers to ease their pain. And yet the hot metal is hardly culpable, and the tiniest drop of cool water may make all the difference for an atom or two of said hot iron - though no a***s be saved. Edited January 22, 2014 by AngThong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notmyself Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 An efficient and island-wide sterilisation program is the only realistic long-term solution. To be successful, it requires lots of resources - vets to do the sterilisation, shelter where the dogs can recover post-op and, above all, people who bring in the dogs. I don't see it happening unless the local powers that be get seriously involved, and I don't know what it would take for them to do that. Probably a lethal dog-borne virus, in which case they wouldn't sterilise, they would annihilate. Buddhism or no Buddhism. What we can do is sterilise as many dogs (and cats) as we can. Catching a dog and bringing it to the vet is the easy part, taking care of the dog post-op when it's wearing a collar and needs to take meds is more time-consuming. Even if the entire expat community on Samui gets involved, you'll probably just make a dent in the general dog population. But a dent is better than a bulge... When someone is sitting on a piece of hot metal that is burning their ass and they refuse to get up to solve the problem, I am not going to pay for painkillers to ease their pain. And yet the hot metal is hardly culpable, and the tiniest drop of cool water may make all the difference for an atom or two of said hot iron - though no a***s be saved. The culpability is in the lap (beneath it actually) of that person who refuses to stand up away from the hot metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xen Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 The op has identified a problem that exists all over Thailand not just Samui. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitchag Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 You are spot on with your rant, some people think animals have the same or more rights than humans, animal control is practiced in all civilised countries for the safety of the the human population. I have yet to see one male soi dog minus his balls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfGarnett Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 from my observations, the Dog Rescue seem to be less proactive nowadays. A restaurant I know has called them a few times about a stray bitch who keeps having litters (has had 3) and still nobody has even attempted to collect her, the same restaurant has no trouble with the Dog Rescue collection box being emptied though. Maybe a harsh observation, perhaps others can shed light, don't want to bad mouth people trying to make a difference. Perhaps a change in tact, go to these areas with excessive dogs, ask for a small contribution to round these dogs up and neuter from the people within the locality. Am sure most people would gladly give to see an actual round up in their neighbourhood. We cannot even walk our dogs because of the fights that kick off with wandering dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitchag Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 When out driving with my Thai wife I do not swerve to avoid hitting dogs she says no matter what I must not hit the dog, I will slow down and sound my horn but never swerve so many accidents are caused by idiots swerving to avoid hitting a dog 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
impulse Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Bring in a couple of dozen Cajuns. Tell 'em that dogs are: 1) Good in a gumbo and 2) Out of season. Seriously, though- if anyone comes up with a single (or annual or monthly) dose oral contraceptive for dogs and cats, I envision Thailand's next billionaire. Barring that, I can't think of a solution that doesn't involve the meat trade. Which wouldn't be so bad if there were controls on which dogs were culled and how they were treated on their way to the table. But the horror stories and photos that pop up in the news just tear at my heart- thinking about my doggies. Or it's billions of baht that will be siphoned off a surgical sterilization program, with probably no real results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooo Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 How many cents in the dollar ( satangs in the Baht ) from collections actually go towards operational costs & how much towards wages? That would be an interesting read. I don't often donate cash for that particular reason, not knowing the actual net result.I do not have any qualms donating goods thou. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John 1 Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 Don't mess with my G/F dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post marstons Posted January 23, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted January 23, 2014 from my observations, the Dog Rescue seem to be less proactive nowadays. A restaurant I know has called them a few times about a stray bitch who keeps having litters (has had 3) and still nobody has even attempted to collect her, the same restaurant has no trouble with the Dog Rescue collection box being emptied though. Maybe a harsh observation, perhaps others can shed light, don't want to bad mouth people trying to make a difference. Perhaps a change in tact, go to these areas with excessive dogs, ask for a small contribution to round these dogs up and neuter from the people within the locality. Am sure most people would gladly give to see an actual round up in their neighbourhood. We cannot even walk our dogs because of the fights that kick off with wandering dogs. so why don't the restaurant take the dog to the vets them self and have her neutered, easily done. Start by using the donation box for funds 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pokerspiv Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I've got a solution.. Move back to England! If not, xxxx moaning!! Personally I commend these so called do-gooders from these animal charity's that only do it to make themselves feel better! They do what they can do with the resources and funds available. But so long as your ok jack,xxxxxxx everyone else eh! I'm guessing that is your solution to everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noi657 Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 I'll put my hands up... I was hasty with my rant! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlfGarnett Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 marstons, on 23 Jan 2014 - 13:41, said: AlfGarnett, on 23 Jan 2014 - 09:08, said: from my observations, the Dog Rescue seem to be less proactive nowadays. A restaurant I know has called them a few times about a stray bitch who keeps having litters (has had 3) and still nobody has even attempted to collect her, the same restaurant has no trouble with the Dog Rescue collection box being emptied though. Maybe a harsh observation, perhaps others can shed light, don't want to bad mouth people trying to make a difference. Perhaps a change in tact, go to these areas with excessive dogs, ask for a small contribution to round these dogs up and neuter from the people within the locality. Am sure most people would gladly give to see an actual round up in their neighbourhood. We cannot even walk our dogs because of the fights that kick off with wandering dogs. so why don't the restaurant take the dog to the vets them self and have her neutered, easily done. Start by using the donation box for funds the collection box has a padlock on, they do ask about the dog every time the collection box gets emptied, but to no avail. This is a very timid dog, and runs a mile if anyone tries to get near it, would probably be a case of adding sedative to some food and leaving it out, then finding the dog !!! There are quite a few male dogs around the area that have not been castrated, and these have no owners so they could do with being round up tbh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justanotheroldhippy Posted January 24, 2014 Author Share Posted January 24, 2014 1st question why do you have a dog do you plan on staying for the next 10 years of the dogs life span or turn it loose when you leave?n the As for disposing of dogs read up on the Buddhist religion or go to the temple and ask them to kill some of the poor dogs they feed every day and wait for a reply just be ready to get on your bike. On the question about the Samui dog rescue have you called them and asked why they do what they do if not do so. Seem's like you just came on here for a bitch. Been here more than 10 years already, and intend to spend the rest of my life here... as for the Buddhist religion, if you read my initial comment you would have seen that I actually mentioned the fact that solutions would be difficult, taking Buddhist principles into account. Re: dog rescue... it's obvious they do what they do because they feel good about rescueing dogs... but what they do actually contributes very little to the solving the dog problem on the island. Seems to me like you just came on to bitch at someone - without actually adding anything constructive to the comment... ! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justanotheroldhippy Posted January 24, 2014 Author Share Posted January 24, 2014 I've got a solution.. Move back to England! If not, xxxxx moaning!! Personally I commend these so called do-gooders from these animal charity's that only do it to make themselves feel better! They do what they can do with the resources and funds available. But so long as your ok jack,xxxxxxx everyone else eh! Just the kind of pathetic comment I was expecting... there is always someone with the 'move back to England' response. Wonder if you will feel the same after you hit a dog on your bike and end up in hospital? If you have nothing to constructive or worthwhile to add to the conversation, go back to sitting outside 7/11 with a Chang eh. Jeez... sounds like the moaning is coming from you not me Have a lovely day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justanotheroldhippy Posted January 24, 2014 Author Share Posted January 24, 2014 (edited) From my own first hands experiences with Samui Dog Rescue, I totally agree about OP's statement. I would even use harsher words, but better not to in here... They seems to always be too busy and overworked. I was with a friend of mine when he nearly ran over a dog in the road (driving his pickup). The poor thing was obviously lost, and terrified. It had no road sense at all, and so - on the premise that it was only a matter of time before the dog was run over - or was hit by a motorbike (injuring someone), we stopped to try and help it. It took us nearly an hour to get its trust and managed to get it into the back of the truck with me. It was well fed and obviously a loved pet and well looked after (but no collar). We took it to dog rescue and all they said was that - as it was well fed, and not a street dog, that we should just take it back to where we found it and leave it to find its way home! After I pointed out the danger it posed to PEOPLE by wandering on the road, they just shrugged...'better to take it back, because look how many dogs we have here'! My mate just got the dog and tied it to their fence and told them he was not going to be responsible for someone getting killed or injured by this dog, or responsible for the dogs death. If they called themselves 'dog rescue', then here is a dog that needed 'rescue'!... and we left. At first I thought my mate was a bit out of order, but the more I thought about it, the more I realised he was right, and that their response was simply 'not right'. If they took in strays like this, then owners would at least know where to go to reclaim their lost pets... a good service to the community I reckon. Seems they are not interested in that aspect though... Having said that, this was a year or so ago, so they might have changed their attitude? Edited January 24, 2014 by justanotheroldhippy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I would actually go as far as to claim everything has turned out to be some kind of "front" for the donations. There's probably not that much of donations coming in anyway, and one could argue that more donations are always needed. But it keeps the people going about their "hobby". But the whole "Dog Rescue" thing is very disorganized and the people behind it seems to have lost the passion in it years ago. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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