MAKE IT HUMANE
The talk of Set Zero -- a mass euthanisation or impounding to subdue the population of stray dogs -- has been debated hotly on social media. While some agree it is something that must be done, others deem the method inhumane and cruel.
One of the organisations opposing the idea is the Soi Dog Foundation, which insists that there are better ways of handling the issue. The foundation suggested the CNVR concept, which is to capture stray dogs, neuter and vaccinate them, and in the end release them back to where they were taken.
Soi Dog deems this method the most humane and safest for controlling the population of stray dogs and the spread of rabies, with proven results. CNVR has been adopted by the foundation itself to reduce the population of street dogs in Phuket, where it was reported that the number has fallen from 80,000 in 2003 to only 4,000-6,000 stray dogs today. Phuket is also one area deemed rabies-free.
"The big issue with Thai pet owners is that many allow their pets to roam freely," said John Dalley -- co-founder of Soi Dog Foundation. He added that over 40% of dogs that have been detected as rabies-infected have owners. These owners have neglected to take a simple yet highly crucial step like vaccination for their dogs. So, even if Set Zero were to happen (though it's very unlikely), the process wouldn't affect pets being raised within irresponsible homes.
Concerning the idea of pet taxation, Dalley continued that this method has been tried in other countries with no success.
"Dog taxation has never worked in any country," said Dalley. "The UK used to have a dog-license fee, but few people paid it and it was abandoned some years ago as it cost more to run the scheme than the revenue it collected. Thailand already has an issue where people will not register their dogs in case they cause an accident or bite somebody, for example."
Dalley said he fears this idea will be counterproductive, resulting in an increase in abandonment of pets that would eventually increase the number of street dogs.
WHAT IS ZERO?
Is it too soon to judge Set Zero? Veterinarian Dr Chatkaew Tridech, from Talingchan Animal Hospital, suggested we should first pause to consider what the term really encompasses.
"Set Zero is being interpreted differently by different groups of people, and it's causing a rift within society," she said.
On one hand, Dr Chatkaew said Set Zero could mean starting anew the regulation process, with a budget being set and tasks delegated to different sectors, and for everyone to work together to control the street dog population and the spread of disease. The process may take a long time, but it could prevent conflict from breaking out in the country from animal lovers.
On the other hand, Set Zero -- as everyone fears -- could also mean the mass killing that weighs heavily on people's conscience.
"I don't agree with it, personally," said the veterinarian, adding that there are fine details regarding the nationwide euthanisation that have to be considered before any decision can be made.
"Do we impound the dogs first and only euthanise ones that carry transmitted diseases? What about the others? How many of them can the state really care for? And if they can't be taken care of, do we gas them or simply put them to sleep [by injection]?" Dr Chatkaew said.
"If eventually we have to do it, we also have to seek out a pain-free method, both for the animals and the people who have to learn of this decision," she said.
One solution Dr Chatkaew feels could work instead is to give tax deductions to those who adopt stray dogs and cats. At the same time, the process must be well regulated by the government to track how people care for the adopted animals, and to educate and assist people when necessary.
With rabies getting such large coverage by the media, Dr Chatkaew said the animal hospital has seen a surge in the number of people who bring their pets in for vaccination. This is quite a welcome change, she said, as people weren't as aware of the issue in the past. Many households bring their pets in irregularly, while others don't bother about vaccination at all.
Vaccination, she stressed, is highly important in protecting pets from contracting the disease. And even dogs and puppies raised within a closed system, or the enclosed space of their home, can still get rabies from animals such as squirrels, rabbits, rats, cats and more that wander in.
Dr Chatkaew advised that, during this outbreak, pet owners and people who work with animals should get pre-exposure vaccines as a preventive measure for themselves. Also, do be careful before approaching animals you don't know.
DEFINING OWNERSHIP
Pongpipat Kittisataporn, who owns Inu Machi dog café in the Ratchaphruek area, said that Set Zero in Thailand could be problematic because of dogs' unclear ownership.
"Many owners do let their dogs roam the street, so we can't really say that they are stray, can we?" asked Pongpipat. As an animal lover himself, he disagrees with the Set Zero idea, feeling it would be too harsh on the people's conscience if it were to happen in here.
Pongpipat now owns 15 dogs -- from Siberian huskies to Shiba Inus -- that take turns entertaining guests at the café. As someone who regularly gets his dogs vaccinated and checked up, Pongpipat is quite used to the cost that comes with owning a pet, and he said that he personally wouldn't mind pet taxation if it ever comes down to that. However, as with others, he feels this solution would instead result in large-scale dog abandonment.
For a solution, he suggested that the state could perhaps look into pet registration to track ownership of animals in the country. Owners would then have to register their pets and report when their canines and felines are vaccinated, as well as when there's a birth or death of pets within their care.
"This way, we can also see how the animals are being taken care of," said Pongpipat.
For current stray dogs, sterilisation and vaccination are the best solution to go for.
"Control the population, not eradicate it," he said.
At his own dog café, Pongpipat has responded to the outbreak of rabies by no longer allowing other customers to bring in their own pooches.
"We have to admit that people don't take care of their dogs the same way. And if anything were to happen to my own dogs or the customer's dogs, it will be bad for both sides."
Imposing this rule does affect Pongpipat's business a little, since he is now losing those customers who insist on bringing their dogs in. But customers, for the most part, have also been quite understanding of the situation.
Pongpipat is unsure of how long he will keep to this rule, though it could very well last throughout the summer, as this is the season when rabies most rapidly spreads. If in the future he reopens the gate for other dogs, Pongpipat said he may ask owners to show proof that their dogs have been vaccinated before allowing them inside.
