How long can one remain a dog lover

[Takiap]

Hey hey hey, I can already see the bullets flying in my direction but nonetheless, here goes.

Now, I was born into a family with dogs and have spent barely a day of my life without at least one or two. Even now I have two of my own and I love them dearly. As some of my previous posts will suggest, I have no ill intent towards the unfortunate strays wandering around Thailand and of course, as I've said before, we knew about this problem before we decided to live here. However, how long can one continue feeling sorry for them when your paths keep crossing?

First, about a year ago, it was my wife and daughter who cam of the bike because of a mutt running in front of them. Yes bot had helmuts but both also had severs cuts, etc from the fall. Of course the beautiful little poodle complete with fancy dress and collar never belonged to anyone for fear of having to pay damages. Okay, so we write off that 4,000 baht. Next, a few months later, I'm driving peacefully up the road when a beast charges out from behind a hedge and has a taste of my leg, once again resulting in me coming off the bike but to gether with a bite this time. Okay, the thing which pissed me off the most was my beer went crashing across the road and it was too late to buy another. The dog was a regular and the owners agreed to keep it tied up after that. Additionally, I had no medical expenses as I felt the threat of rabies was not severe enough.

Now, just the other day, we're sitting at a local shop and another beast had my daughter on the arm. On private property claims the shop keeper so yes, the medical bills were paid my us not to mention the trauma she went through. Unfortunately, I think I've reached the point where I simply could not care less about all these strays and if they run around the streeets like vermin, they so they should be treated.
I know only too well so many others will disagree with me but when it happens to your own child then I'm sorry but we are the same as all other animals in that we also have the instinct to protect our young.

Okay.....................rant over!

[Cowtown Comedy]

I want to agree with you...but until the 2 legged animals put a plan together to make the lives of the four legged ones better, things will remain the same.

[Vital Spark]

Don't worry T. I'm not going to fire bullets.

It's an unpleasant experience being bitten by a dog, but (as CC says) it's up to us humans to take responsibility. Unfortunately (from what I've seen) Thais love cute little fluffy puppies. Once they become adult dogs they're cast off or thrown away. Yeh, you can do it to an old T-shirt, but when it comes to a living creature it's a different kettle of fish.

I believe that Dawn is still actively involved in the 'neuter and release' programme that should (hopefully) reduce the number of strays straying around the area.

I'm surprised that you didn't get collared (metaphorically speaking) with the cost of damages to the fancy-dressed poodle.

I'd love to go to the local schools and teach the kids how to look after a pet. This is a puppy - it's cute. You need to train it. Don't tease it or hit it with a stick or it'll become an aggressive dog. Give it equal amounts of love and discipline. Oh dear, I think I'm off in dreamland again...

VS

[Spitfire]

Much milage could be had here, but I won't.

Agree with VS and CC, that's true and I totally understand Takiap that latitude towards the dogs here can be severly tested in many ways.

There are simply too many of them, coupled with the general Thais attitude towards it, not to mention the religion angle. It is, and will remain, a conspicuous problem until the locals see it as such but don't hold your breath.

[Chas]

I would never say "I love dogs" any more than I would say "I love people."

I have been bitten. I have come across miserable creatures on four legs as well as two. I have known ( and had to work with) an incredible number of total idiots in my life and neither generalization holds true for me.
I like some people very much. . but not everyone!

I love our own dog. I have met other dogs which I have found charming and also liked very much. Then again, I have met dogs which were yappy or otherwise annoying or just plain dangerous. . and I would classify most street dogs here in this category.

[hhfarang]

Takiap,

I'm very sorry about your child getting bitten. That should never happen and I hope she recovers fully and doesn't fear all dogs because of this incident.

I am certainly not advocating this here... this is just an interesting anecdote on the subject of wild stray dogs.

When I lived in Saudi Arabia (Jedda, the biggest city) stray dogs were controlled by the government hiring local African workers to walk the streets and kill them with poison tipped darts from blowguns!

I was shocked the first time I saw a couple of these guys carrying nearly meter long blowguns around and using them in the city, so I asked one of my fellow (Saudi) workers what they were doing and that's what he told me.

[Aussie Mark]

Stray Dogs should be put down as a bullet only cost 6 cents AUD and are very off puting to tourists.As you might of gathered Im not an animal lover .My favourite saying is I LOVE ANIMALS THEIR DELICIOUS

[Cowtown Comedy]

Sounds like Saudi would be a good place for Aussie Mark...kill 2 dogs with 1 stone...

[sandman67]

paintballs are good for getting rid of soi dog snarlers.....

[robby hh]

Not much common sense in a lot of these posts only emotion from dog lovers. So I will try to introduce some however I am sure it will only lead to the sort of abuse OZ got.

You may not have noticed but we live in an environment built by humans for humans and to introduce any animal into a human environment there has to be a reason and a purpose.

I have had dogs most of my life mostly farm or hunting dogs but at times just pets and I have the greatest of respect for a good dog and have shed tears at the demise of more than one.

So sticking with dogs:

I want a dog the reason being I have a farm with sheep and cattle and the purpose of that dog will be to help me work my farm stock.

I want a dog the reason being I am blind and the purpose of that dog will be a seeing eye dog.

I want a dog the reason being I live alone and the purpose of that dog will be a companion.

I want a dog the reason being we have have had our home broken into and the putpose of the dog will be a guard dog

There are many more reasons and purposes to own a dog but if anyone out there can give me either a reason or a purpose for the scabby disease ridden stray soi dogs that roam this country I will be surprised to hear it.

And rabies isnt the only disease that these things carry that can be passed to humans, try googling dog diseases, then there are the parasites the carry.

I know Dawn you are still trying to do something positive about the problem and I respect you for that but sorry your efforts are misguided.

And for those(on another post) who say 'there is no point in cleaning them out because another lot will only move in' that is like saying:

" I wont clean my house because it will only get dirty again, I wont empty my rubbish tin because it will only get full again, No point in cleaning the rubbish off the beach because more will only come."

Stray dog control is an ongoing thing and in a place the size of HH it would only need a couple of dog rangers, after the initial clean up, to keep the place stray dog free and much safer.

[Vital Spark]

Not much common sense in a lot of these posts ...

So, your solution is to get two people to kill all the stray dogs wandering around Hua Hin.

VS

[Spitfire]

Not much common sense in a lot of these posts only emotion from dog lovers. So I will try to introduce some......

Funny, that's good man! May I pertinently point out that I think the reason that 'tongues are being held', mine included, on this one is due to the explosive and controversial nature of some of the fairly recent threads on said subject matter.

Some were eloquent and some not/to the point. Just trot through them, they are easy to find.

Solutions varied considerably.

[Aussie Mark]

Mr Cowtown

As 4 your pictures I would Eat both maybe not the dolphin.Just 2 let u know I actually own and care about a few animals

1 My 2 beloved racehorses (but if they dont start winning soon might find
them in a can 2 feed some dogs)

2 my beloved greyhound and if he doesnt win again might eat him at our chinese resturant

c I do like animals especially when they win

[Randy Cornhole]

So you would eat your 2003 losing Rugby side. Hmm Mortlock and chips...

[Predator]

Yeh, you can do it to an old T-shirt, but when it comes to a living creature it's a different kettle of fish.

A DOG IS NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMAS! IF YOU CARVE IT CAREFULLY IT WILL LAST UNTIL BOXING DAY!

Old Korean saying.