Street Dogs

Sleeping alongside a building

Dogs in Thailand are everywhere!  Most dogs are "street dogs" meaning they have no owners and they live on the streets, begging for food.  If you walk along the side of the road, you will see evidence of dogs who have walked before you, no one is there to pick up after the dogs, so it leaves quite a mess, one must step carefully!  I have seen very few homeless people in Thailand, it seems that the dogs have replaced them, sleeping on sidewalks, curled up in the shade along buildings, and hoping for a hand out.

Many people who no longer want their dogs, will drop them off at a local temple or Wat.  Temples always have plenty of food and the owners believe that their dogs will be fed and cared for at the temple.

Street dogs are very cautious around cars, and will quickly move out of the way.  Although they "hang out" on sidewalks and on the sides of the streets, they clearly understand that the cars have the right of way.  For those dogs that need a little help, a quick honk of the horn reminds them to clear out!  

Street dog waiting for food at the school

We live near a Thai elementary school and in the mornings when the students are being dropped of, I often see dogs patiently waiting for handouts from the students or their parents.  The dogs wander into the school yard, and play along with the children, and it is an accepted practice!  These dogs receive no medical care, give birth to puppies on the streets, not an easy life.  It is hard for a dog lover like me to see the conditions that these dogs live in, but with thousands of "street dogs" in Thailand, it would be impossible to adopt them all.

Another "student" waiting for food

This guy follows me around while out for my morning walk

   There is the occasional dog with a collar, who has an owner, but that dog is the rare exception.  It is such a complete change from our culture, where dogs must be leashed, licensed, vaccinated and cared for.   These street dogs are endearing, but also wary, they are careful of me, and I, in turn, am careful around them.  People have been attacked by strays, but it is very uncommon.  For the most part, they just want to be left alone, unless you are providing food!

The darker side to the life as a Thai dog was highlighted in last Saturday's edition of the Bangkok Post.  The story stated that despite the social taboos against eating dog meat, there are still places in Thailand where this occurs.  Last September, Thai officials seized 120 dogs that were being illegally shipped over the boarder to a neighboring country, to be sold for human consumption.  Fortunately, today's Thai youth are now being educated to have zero tolerance for consuming pet animals.