300,000 Stray Dogs Roam the Streets of Bangkok

The capital city of Thailand has seen its fair share of difficult situations over the years, from colonization to child sex trade workers. Today Bangkok faces another struggle -- 300 000 stray dogs roam the streets of the nation's capital.

For every square kilometre of land in Bangkok, there are 200 stray dogs. With so many strays in Bangkok, living conditions in the city are beginning to be effected. These strays, who bare a distinct similarity to India's Pariah dog, cause car accidents, steal food and when they die decompose in the streets. The human population of the city is 95% Buddhist and a very influential portion of the population are the monks who guide them on their quest to reach Nirvana. Buddhism teaches sensitivity to the pain and sufferance of animals and therefore monks and devoted followers do not cull the strays which have become a blight on the city. In fact one temple has become a home to the strays, currently housing 700 dogs at a cost of $1500 USD per week. Annelize Booysen, the General Manager of Soi Cats and Dogs (SCAD) heads a team that captures, sterilizes, vaccinates, and release strays throughout Bangkok. Dogs are identified in specific communities and tagged with collars once they have been sterilized and vaccinated. SCAD is welcomed by the population and monasteries who appreciate the long term plan to eventually thin out the population. Unfortunately the exponential growth of the dog population requires far greater veterinary services than can be provided by SCAD. With sympathies for the strays a main stay in Bangkok society bolstered by monastic support for the dogs, the population will reach one million shortly. Leading up to the 2008 Summer Olympics, China killed 40 000 stray and pet dogs. The preferred method of culling was to capture the animals and then kill them, although baited poison traps were used throughout the country. Canines have been a companion to humanity since before recorded history, most likely the first domesticated animal. Strays in Bangkok, Mumbai, Jakarta, and throughout China bare an uncanny similarity to the Australian Dingo. Each country has dealt with the issue of strays in accordance with their societal beliefs and traditions. The first domesticated dogs were most likely those who lived on the outskirts of human settlements, feeding off scraps. In order to protect their food source, dogs would fend off larger predators such as sabre-toothed cats inadvertently protecting humans.