Pattaya animal lovers expressed relief that the Agriculture Ministry was forced to revise its amendments to the 2014 Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animal Act after they were approved by the Cabinet without public input.
The junta had ramrodded through the changes to the law without any feedback from pet owners, prompting a massive backlash once Cabinet approval was announced. The amendment would have required pet owners to pay a 450-baht-per-animal registration fee or be slapped with a 25,000-baht fine.
Following a nationwide outcry, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha backed down and ordered the ministry to revise the law after consulting with the public and animal-rights groups. No estimate has been given on when, or if, the law will be revived.
Pattaya residents Sunisa Duanghiran and Gerry Rasmus, who care for about 60 stray dogs and cats, said they would have been forced to stop their welfare work had the law taken effect. Not only could they not afford the fee, but they doubted the 4.5 billion baht raised nationwide from the law actually would have gone to protecting animals.
The fee would have been comprised with a 50-baht registration fee, 100 baht for an animal health booklet, and 300 baht for an ID microchip. But the law did not state what the revenue raised would be used for.
Pet owners want to see the money spent on promotion of animal welfare, including sterilization and vaccinations.
The couple echoed the sentiments of critics nationwide, saying the pay-or-be-fined nature of the law would have prompted mass dumping of pets.
