Really? Foreigners buying puppies is one of the 'main reasons' for the problem? The terribly under funded foundations that offer cheap surgeries to spay and neuter, care for hurt animals and educate the locals on how to properly care for their animals need all the help they can get. Let them raise money and prove the money goes into the proper channels or is their a concern that the unproper channels are not being filled too? Disturbing story all around but thanks for writing it.

Posted by Jon on August 2, 2012 09:29

Foreigners and Burmese to blame for stray dogs, eh? I guess it could be true, maybe the Thais just sell their now grown, uncute and unwanted dogs to the Vietnamese to abuse before butchering.

Posted by Media Watcher on August 2, 2012 09:30

Not surprised to read that according Khun Wirasit expats and burmese are the main culprits for the dogs roaming around...well as I have observed during the last 2 decades in Thailand then the typical way of having a dog for a thai family is to feed it, or mostly them as most seem to have a pack of them, beside from feeding them the owners does nothing, just lets the dogs roam around, no collars, not insured, not neutered or sterilized , now that is the main problem Khun Wirasit , but blaming someone else is just a lot more convenient.

Posted by Bjarne on August 2, 2012 11:14

I would ask man to tell me why he say expat is main reason dogs being forced to fend for themselves, where his proof, or is it only him words. I see many dogs on road from my thai people.

Posted by apple_pai on August 2, 2012 11:32

Caring for the dogs is the responsibility of Phuket Livestock Office. However they are both unwilling and unable to take that responsibility so NGOs like Soi Dog do their job for free.

As a cherry on the top Khun Wirasit, displaying his Phuket flavor of Thainess, blames the whole stray dog issue on foreigners.

The nerve some government officials on Phuket have is nothing short of mindblowing.

I'd rather he just made a deep Wai and said thank you for doing my job.

Posted by Andrew on August 2, 2012 12:11

In my opinion, any association in Thailand should be managed by Thais only.
What are doing foreigners at managerial level in a Thai Association?
It may be the same way after the 2004 tsunami where many foreigners with a soul of priest willing to help someone else but making a good living from the donations.....

Posted by Whistle-Blower on August 2, 2012 12:44

Foreigners and Burmese often take care of their dogs like family. Two foreigners in my soi keep the dogs leashed, the Burmese camp has one that is better trained than any dog I have seen. But I see a couple of dogs roaming around in our soi that belonged to Thai neighbors who litereally kicked it away and then bought a new puppy. They leave the feeding to other neighbors now, but the question is who's dog that is now..

Posted by Tinkerbell on August 2, 2012 19:08

@whistle-blower.. it's a good job your opinion counts for nothing!!

Posted by another steve on August 2, 2012 21:51

@another steve
Unfortunately, the Thai Administration shares my opinion since longtime and will not change in the future.

Posted by Whistle-Blower on August 3, 2012 09:41

Of course, these comments would have nothing to do with a corrupt government living in the pockets of organised crime who justify their cruelty in the name of religion. Hang on ... A world war was justified on that basis too. 100% support to those 'foreigners' who are prepared to do something that the government are not.

Posted by Dermott on August 5, 2012 14:08

''We need to be able to check on how dogs are kept and treated,'' Khun Wirasit said, ''that's why there are strictly enforced requirements.''

...Right! As if they care at all! As if they are doing a fantastic job caring for the dogs in the Stray Dog Shelter! Long live hypocrisy!

What will become of these poor homeless animals, if kind hearted people are not allowed to help? Yes, they are exposing an embarrassing problem, but get over it, and lend them a hand, please! Oh, never mind with the 'please'! It won't help! I'm slowly givin up hope hat it will ever improve!

Posted by Sofie on August 15, 2012 19:47

The dogs at the stray dog pound who are supposed to be looked after by the livestock office are in an apalling state. The foreigners are only trying to help them and all the other dogs on the island, using money out of their own pocket to provide food. Blaming the burmese and the expats is farely typical. The government are not able or willing to do the job of taking care of these animals properly and i support the expats who sacrifice their time and money to help.

Posted by linda on August 17, 2012 11:18

Who makes sure the two Approved Organisations spend money on what they raise it for, SDF and PAWS are NOT helping out in the Government Dog Pound, yet they raise money to help Phuket stray dogs, why did the Farang need to do her own thing and raise money on her own? Did SDF and PAWS refuse to help?

Posted by Brigette on August 20, 2012 15:40

I'm curious as to why my comment was never published. As someone with almost a year of experience at the Phuket Dog Pound, I would have thought my comments were valid.

I have spent $10,000 of my own money on vet bills and 1000's of hours picking maggots out of wounds, giving injections, cleaning infections, cleaning dog food and water bowls, cleaning the faeces in the yards and dead dog carcases. I have also had $4,000 in donations which have gone towards buying materials to fix the Pound, such as roofing material, wire, mesh, tools, even a washing machine for towels used for washing dogs, as the staff kept throwing them away.

PAWS is NOT a rescue organisation, they have refused both my and friends of mine's requests to help dogs. Soi Dog Foundation is the only official rescue organisation on the island. SDF look after street dogs, not the Pound dogs, but they will treat dogs from the Pound in severe state and then they are returned to the Pound. Soi Dog do all they can, but the Pound is not part of their target.

If we could get people to go to the Pound to choose dogs to adopt, we could help reduce some of the problem, we need to reduce numbers at the Pound, as unfortunately more dogs are pouring in almost daily.

Posted by Dogfriend on September 1, 2012 09:26

Who do you think I am? I have only ever posted on your site under one name, except today. I think you should check your facts before you start trying to make me sound like an idiot.

I can't imagine what request I made of you, 'would have been nice to hear back from you if you thought I had asked something untoward.

You can check my use of other names by matching my email address, that way you'll see I have used no other name.

I don't know what catfights you're referring to, I have just been doing a job that needs to be done. The dogs are living in very bad conditions and need help.

In my new comment I have referred to Brigette who asked about PAWS. They only treat animals brought into them at a fee. Yes, they do collect money for dogs but I'm not sure what work they do with that money (not saying they don't do any work).

The Foundation who works at rescuing dogs in need and treating them for no charge is Soi Dog Foundation who are not involved in the Pound.

Posted by Dogfriend on September 1, 2012 13:11

You have got to be kidding me! I have been reading and replying to your blog for ever. On your comments box it says that the name is not required, I figured it was of little importance. I thought you were referring to this story. I have many memberships on forums and use all these names, so don't bother too much.

Never mind, I won't be bothering you again.

Posted by Tina, Athena, Khun Tina, whoever on September 1, 2012 14:29

Agreed with Jon..
It's true there are some irresponsible expats who leave their pets behind... But it surely isn't the main reason. Instead of trying to argue whose fault it is, the time and effort is much better spent at solving the problems , isnt' it?

Posted by Yui on May 16, 2013 00:24