Dear Editor,

In reply to John P.’s “Hard line on stray dogs” letter last issue, all I can reply is shock, horror, that is indeed a hard line.

John, as to your “more realistic idea that a group of police go out to shoot or mercy kill strays on a regular basis”, how practical is that? This is a majority Buddhist country and the majority of police and indeed most Thais are Buddhist, to whom the very worst sin is killing any living creature.

John, sure the animals are “mangy disease ridden and a public health risk PLUS very bad for tourism and most importantly, cause motor cycle accidents!” However, I disagree with you, the question just does NOT become simply one of numbers, how many humans killed to dogs spared. The question is how can we, all Thais and resident farangs, demonstrate our compassion to every living creature. In my belief, any nation’s humanity, not to mention tourism trade is reflected in how they treat the environment and every living creature, regardless.

In conclusion, you will be pleased to note that your brilliant suggestions of a year ago to set up an A.S.P.C.A. organization here similar to the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has indeed been acted upon. I am very surprised that you have been living here for a year and not heard of PAWS, Pattaya Animal Welfare Society, a group of committed Thais and farangs who formed a club on your suggestion to care for animals. PAWS is doing just that & has had a great deal of publicity over this year. In spite of having little funds. PAWS is out in the community giving rabies and contraceptive shots and neutering community animals. PAWS Pattaya was on national TV Channel 11, Morning Talk Show last week, along with the mayor of Pattaya. PAWS has indeed a regular programme of inoculating and spaying animals at local wats plus many other community projects. PAWS started at your suggestion, Paws does make a difference to our strays. PAWS is happening, please come to the next meeting or the Jesters Fair at the Amari on Saturday 16th of this month where you can meet and insult me and become a PAWS member.

Kind regards,

Sir,

Today at 2:30 an un-uniformed CAT employee delivered my mail. Four pieces - quite a windfall as this was the first for two weeks.

Examining the post marks, I was surprised to find that all four had been in Pattaya for more than 10 days. Three were international mail franked by Bang Lamung Post Office on the 26th and 27th of last month. The other was a CAT international phone bill posted in Nonthaburi on the 25th.

Has CAT now decided to deliver mail on a two-weekly basis? Or are they waiting until there is sufficient to be ‘worth’ delivering? With regard to the CAT international phone bill, do I detect a conspiracy to withhold the bill so as to collect the reconnection fee, as happened to me last month?

Yours,

Dear Sir,

Whilst on my bi-yearly sojourn to your fair city in order to visit my English friends, I have to mention that I was not ripped off once. Not one baht bus cheated me, not one vendor tried to double price me and not one local bad mouthed me.

This is an appalling state of affairs and just exactly what am I to complain about now?

You really should get your town in order... tsk-tsk.

Editor;

Brushing Pattaya’s international reputation aside, what interests me now is how some individuals, and I’m talking mainly to the regulars here, clearly feel the need to re-define the raison d’etre and life in this colourful city. I’m not out to spoil the fun but it is all too easy to get used to this place, treat it as normal, then construct ideas such as the attitudes of women back home, high taxes, lousy weather, etc., in an attempt to mask the reasons that brought us here in the first place. I am not out to lecture anybody but I do think it is important to keep a grasp on reality and just where we are heading. But then every man has to work that one out for himself...

If a middle-aged guy can’t walk into a teenage disco in Europe and expect his Chai dee to pull a sweet young thing then precisely how does he explain his good fortune over here? OK, faced with the opportunity, few would ask questions! They would jump straight in - and rationalise later. Anyone recognise this thought pattern? What young people across the world get up to between themselves (grossly media hyped in most cases) is irrelevant. Do the maths for yourself. Him - 50, wrinkly, 250lb, no hair. Her - 19, tight, 100lbs. And another thing, how would you feel towards affluent Thais carrying on in your back yard - with your daughter! Are we really sure they really love us?

It was not my original intention to write this. I simply thought “10 reasons to love Pattaya” was exaggerated and that old hands would agree with my comments. The responses to my recent letter now raise a whole bucket load of interesting questions!

Old hands know the Soi Post Office DK bookshop has plenty of well researched reading material, but for a more dramatic impact, read the worn expressions on the patrons sitting nearby! Caution: the long term effects of cheap 24/7 sex can be devastating on a man’s life. It is not for me to criticise and I apologise, because I like Thailand, too! It is a great and inexpensive holiday destination as Peter rightly pointed out. But when it becomes a way of life...

Thanks to the mail for allowing us this forum. Your excellent newspaper (and website) is a ‘must read’ every week. Finally, if anyone wishes to learn more about Liverpool they could always check out the Lonely Planet Guide. I find their reports are usually spot on!