Lots of Thai's don't have a lot..... Their priorities are (and have to be) different. Wealth in the West has helped us to have a different view of the dog, we treat them as part of the family (in most cases), they are a responsibility, you have to spend time and sometimes money (sometimes lots) on their well being.
Some Thai's are like this too, but overall, Thailand has a different attitude towards the mutt. For one, theirs is an outdoor life, rather than an indoor one, so many dogs come and go, move from house to house, street to street, many without a direct owner, or an owner that doesn't go out of their way to ensure they are safe and not being a pest.
Thousands of dogs roam wild, and mate, increasing their numbers. Many are hit by cars, fight in the road, get hurt, starve, die from disease etc etc.
Life for a mutt in Thailand can be very tough, and very short.
What is a little weird to me is when Thai's (and expat farang) go out of their way to purchase an exotic dog. You get them at markets, Chat-u-Chat being the culprit that springs to mind. Well pruned tiny pooches line some streets, lying in their baskets gasping for air as their Thai touters attempt to make as much money as possible from them. Many must perish. It's pretty awful.
For any dog-loving farang that read this, who are living or planning to live in Thailand, I would recommend you don't go out of your way to purchase one of these dogs, sad as that in itself may be. You are only creating a market for this type of sale. Instead, I would recommend you go to your nearest temple, who are usually inundated with dogs from my experience. Many Thai's who can't cope with or don't want puppies leave them there. Yes they get fed (occasionally) but the monks will thank you for taking one off their hands, free of charge of course (although a donation would be welcome).
My Thai family here used to buy dogs, but now we always go out of our way to get strays, 'Lucky' being our latest addition (pic above and below).
She is a great dog, and one that would have had a much bleaker future had we not picked her up.
There are quite a few Thai dog sanctuary's around, who I'm sure would welcome any takers and be a great source of information for those interested.
Couple of links here: Soidog (phuket) Care for Dogs (chiang mai) SCAD Bangkok (bangkok) soi-dog foundation (phuket) volunteer at a dog rescue centre (near phuket) dog aid Thailand (bangkok) dog rescue center (samui) Thai Animal Rescue Centre (sanklaburi) dog rescue center (samui).
On a positive note, I believe I am seeing a small shift in attitudes towards dogs, at least, in the part of Thailand where we live. I definitely don't see as many dead dogs in the road as when I first arrived a year ago...... Perhaps a little Western influence maybe having a positive effect here?
Ben I have been thinking about getting a dog for a while, even though I have three soi dogs who visit from my neighbours.
Would a mongrel be the best sort? (i.e. immune to everything) I quite like the ridge back type of mutt, faithful and fierce, a bush mans dog, used too the slithery visitors I get from time to time.
Do you have your dogs injected against rabies etc?
I have kept a dog in the UK but I guess its different here. Any advice would be appreciated.
Sorry to go on in this comment, I am happy for you email me any advice if you get time.
Posted by: Mike | May 31, 2009 at 02:44 AM
I applaud you for advocating the support of the local Thai dogs.
When it comes to dogs in SE Asia (not just in Thailand), I am forced to wear blinders when walking around the sois and Wats.
The horrible physical conditions of the majority of the soi dogs tear at my heart so much so that my system responds with an immediate reaction.
I get sharp pains shooting up both arms and sometimes into my chest.
I know I cannot save them all and that causes an additional, emotional pain.
When I first arrived in SE Asia the sight of a local dog would make me cry. A lump rises up, then constricts my throat, making it impossible to talk without a struggle.
It doesn't happen as often these days, but only because I'm more practiced at the art of averting my eyes before the visual reaches my brain.
If there is a heaven, I'm sure a special place is reserved for dog lovers everywhere.
Posted by: Catherine | May 31, 2009 at 03:39 AM
Hi Mike, don't be daft! you can go on as long as you please. Dog advice? Well we picked up 3 pups from the temple end of last year, they were abandoned. One of them is a female ridgeback and she is just adorable, i would recommend a female ridgeback, passive, very friendly but territorial, we took her to the vets when they were around 3 months and they took care of all the injections (although not sure if one was rabies), cost about 1-2k baht per dog. Plan to get her spayed when she reaches one year. They all got ill together once, often they pick up nasty infections from ticks and share them, could be fatal if you dont get them seen. If you pick one up Mike always happy for you to email any concerns etc, I'm no vet but we have lots of dogs so you pick up some knowledge. There you go I've gone on now. Cheers mate, Ben
Posted by: Ben Shingleton | May 31, 2009 at 05:28 AM
Catherine - I know, myself and all my English family are the same, my mum had to hide her face as we walked around various Thai markets etc. It is quite nasty for the inexperienced foreign traveller sometimes but like you say you get kinda used to it. When we stop at outdoor restaurants Sutiya often buys extra dishes for the dogs, we do little things like that when we can just to help them out and to make ourselves feel better, but as you say you can't save them all.
Posted by: Ben Shingleton | May 31, 2009 at 05:32 AM
Oh and one thing I learned Mike, if they stop eating (even really tempting things for dogs like chicken / pork) get them straight down the vet within the 1st day, don't wait. I had that once and the poor thing died the next day. Not even sure why.
Posted by: Ben Shingleton | May 31, 2009 at 06:12 AM
A word of warning. Watch those ticks. Ticks = Lyme disease. See :- www.badspiderbites.com/lyme-disease
I'm guessing it's widespread in SE Asia 'cos it is in the UK ticks and it's very, very nasty.
Posted by: theoldman | May 31, 2009 at 08:47 AM
My cousin has lime disease. It was a horrible waste of her youth. But I was under the impression that you could only catch lime disease in a temperate climate? I could be wrong though...
Posted by: Catherine | May 31, 2009 at 04:28 PM
Apolgies... not temperate... but the total opposite. Like where the tree lines meet the snow lines and all.
[drat that Melatonin!]
Posted by: Catherine | May 31, 2009 at 04:30 PM
Yes the mangy soi dogs, sad situation. I don't know if I would want a dog in Thailand at all, but if I had one it would have to be one of the poor critters roaming the streets.
On the topic of soi dogs, I had this rather 'crisp' email exchange with a bona fide hack who took himself very seriously (we mere bloggers are third class citizens, it seems) who'd written a piece in the Telegraph, or was it the Express, I forget...
The thing is, during that very 'cold' snap last December he swore blind that the sois (and not the posh parts of Bangkok) were full of Thais walking their dogs, clad in little jumpers and jackets and socks and stuff (that's the dogs, not the Thais). Claimed there were labradors, alsatians, poodles, etc.
Firstly I've very rarely seen pedigree European-style dogs around (though I did see a St Bernard in Chiang Mai last year)... and secondly, I didn't see a single bejacketed mutt on the streets of chiang Mai, posh end or otherwise, over the same period.
So I kind of hinted that I thought he was exaggerating... a lot ;-)
So blogger sages, is it just me, or was this a bit of journalistic licence from the guy concerned?
If I'm wrong, I'll eat humble pie and apologise to the man. But any of you in Bkk, did you see packs of hounds in woollies last December?
Posted by: Pete, frogblogger | June 01, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Cat - jeez I hope your right, don't know anything about LD - but I'm always picking the little bleeders off me!
Err, that would have to be a big N-O from my perspective Pete (I don't live in BK but I'm in and out all the time). I'm sure he has a friend or two that does that, which is probably where he gets the idea from., I have seen Thai's at the coffee shop here in Suphan who completely spoil their dogs (much as lots of us do in the West) but for every 1 spoiled dog, there has to be 50 that are left to roam. I do think attitudes are changing very slowly, and we will probably see change in Bangkok / Phuket / Chaing Mai first I would guess?)
Posted by: Ben Shingleton | June 02, 2009 at 12:56 AM
The family dog at the farm in Nakhon Phanom isn't much more than a soi dog. He roams around all day and gets what scraps he can. My girl won't even touch him.
Great dog too...unfortunately Thai's just don't feel the same towards animals as we do.
Posted by: Talen | June 02, 2009 at 01:50 AM
Pete: 'he swore blind that the sois (and not the posh parts of Bangkok) were full of Thais walking their dogs, clad in little jumpers and jackets and socks and stuff (that's the dogs, not the Thais). Claimed there were labradors, alsatians, poodles, etc.'
Although I don't see a lot of Thais walking dogs, I have seen a few (not a lot) Thai dogs in jackets and cute little sweaters... and I have to say that they look totally ridiculous.
The dogs are usually sitting in small shops, all decked out in their silliness.
Ben: I hope I'm right too as lime disease is scary. My cousin is a few years older than me (we were considered identical cousins in our late teens).
My life went on pretty much as normal but her young life came to an almost total standstill over the disease.
I googled but didn't find anything definite for SE Asia so if anyone finds anything, I'd love to know about it.
Posted by: Catherine | June 02, 2009 at 02:40 AM
Trouble with Ticks is they carry a host of nasty's. Getting bitten by one is just bad news. You should see the one in Africa. Bloody HUGE!!! Don't just worry about the diseases they've got, they could carry off small children!
Posted by: Wotchit | June 02, 2009 at 07:25 AM
Right Catherine ... but I'm still putting off biting into that humble pie! Were there many of them? Were they European breeds like labs and setters, or were they more those doll-like little critters some people seem to go for!
Posted by: Pete, frogblogger | June 02, 2009 at 11:03 AM
Wilai has taken on two Heinz 57 village pups and now months later they are wonderful, friendly bundles of energy and joy. On my recent visit we had to get the vet out to young Cola and he administered 3 injections for the total sum of 200 baht. 3 days later young Cola was running around as good as ever, made my day it really did. I just love that top photograph.
Posted by: Martyn | June 02, 2009 at 08:47 PM
Hey Martyn, all my visits to the vets in Thailand have been pretty positive, they know what they are doing, are at least 1/3 price of UK, and they get to the route of the problem. Glad your pooches are doing well. The top photo! I still can't believe they are the same dog!
Posted by: Ben Shingleton | June 03, 2009 at 12:56 AM
Ben thanks for the advice and offer of help. There's quite a lot on lymes disease on the net. I believe you can also get it from rat/mouse pee.
It is present in Thailand.
Posted by: Mike | June 03, 2009 at 02:34 AM
'I'm still putting off biting into that humble pie! Were there many of them? Were they European breeds like labs and setters, or were they more those doll-like little critters some people seem to go for!'
Rest easy, they were those teensy little things, sitting in little matching baskets :-)
Posted by: Catherine | June 03, 2009 at 12:52 PM
As I always have to find an answer...
I checked again around the internet to find out about Lyme Disease in Thailand.
And while the google page info comes up 'Lyme Disease Thailand', when I follow the urls, there is nothing there. The sites mention all keywords is all.
There is one site that lists Thailand, then goes on to say that the data has nothing to do with realities,
'The statistics used for prevalence/incidence of Lyme disease are typically based on US, UK, Canadian or Australian prevalence or incidence statistics, which are then extrapolated using only the population of the other country.'
So... if anyone can post a url, I'd be grateful.
Needing to talk to my vet anyway, I asked him about Lyme Disease.
(He was trained in the US, speaks English better than I do, his Thai wife born and raised in the US).
He says that there is no Lyme Disease in Thailand.
I'm still fence sitting...
Posted by: Catherine | June 04, 2009 at 06:45 AM
Fence sitting! If that's fence sitting then I don't want to argue with you Cat. I don't have a clue personally, I just hope I'm not the first case! ;)
Posted by: The Thai Pirate | June 04, 2009 at 01:10 PM
Glad to start the whole LD thing but mouse/rat pee is yet another horror - Weils Disease. It is very, very prevalent (rodents urinate continually not like most mammals). Anglers get it from getting their hands wet in river/pond water then touching their mouths - that's how easy it is to get.
Don't think it's quite as horrible as Lyme. I must say though it's quite likely Lyme IS in Thailand, just not getting diagnosed as such. It is still often missed in the UK. Blimey what a cheery blog about mutts!
Posted by: theoldman | June 05, 2009 at 06:53 PM
Weils Disease - oh yuk! That sounds horrible.
As a (former) gardener in SE Asia I've acquired some pretty gross things - I don't want to post them here... just watch what you are sitting on! - so I do know that you need to be careful.
Posted by: Catherine | June 06, 2009 at 02:01 PM