Pattaya’s animal-control department says stray dogs actually are beneficial to local communities and that if people are upset over the number of soi dogs, they should look in the mirror.
City veterinarian Surapong Wongsuttawad said Aug. 19 that dog-catching teams, armed with tranquilizer guns, go out regularly to round up, sterilize and inoculate stray dogs. But, due to high demand, they don’t always respond to resident complaints immediately.
Dogs are taken to the city’s facility on Soi 4 in Plutaluang, which currently houses about 1,300 animals.
But Surapong said that no matter how many dogs are caught, the number of strays does not decrease. New dogs quickly take the place of captured ones and pet owners are to blame.
Surapong said people too often get cute puppies then discard the dogs when they grow up. If people spent more time considering the decision to get a dog and kept them for the average 11-year lifespan, there would be far fewer strays, he said.
Besides, Surapong added, stray dogs are actually beneficial to neighborhoods. They are warning signs for strangers or criminals and can safely co-exist with people if they are properly vaccinated and sterilized.
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