From the tip of Phuket to the heart of the Golden Triangle, if there’s one thing you’re guaranteed to see in every city, town, village and hamlet in Thailand, it’s street dogs.
Due to an overbreeding problem and a dearth of neutering practices, Thailand’s population of street dogs grows at an alarming rate every year with seemingly no let-up. Although the Thai people are well known for keeping local stray dogs well fed, these pups are still vulnerable to disease, injuries from other dogs and traffic accidents, and a lack of a loving home.
Although many of Thailand’s soi dogs are seemingly docile and tame, with soulful brown eyes and an endearingly scruffy exterior, always remember to take care around them, particularly in their territory. A life on the streets and a survival of the fittest mentality means that they can be aggressive, while some also carry diseases, like Rabies, that can be transmitted to humans.
The best way to help Thailand’s street dogs is to donate and volunteer at charities dedicated to their welfare. These organisations feed the dogs, provide and pay for necessary medication and veterinary needs, and even arrange adoptions. Two of the best known are Thai Street Paws Rescue down in Songkhla and the Soi Dog Foundation in Phuket.
Here’s a compilation of some of the most poignant photos of Thailand’s street dogs.
1. ‘Stray Dog, Hat Rin’
By Torjussen (Creative Commons)
2. ‘Thailand: Precious Baby’
By eliduke (Creative Commons)
3. Temple dog in Koh Phangan
By Edahn Small (Creative Commons)
4. ‘Amazing Thailand’ – Bang Bat, Bangkok
By haribote (Creative Commons)
5. ‘Phuket Street Pup’
By Cat Burton (Creative Commons)
6. ‘Feeding’ in Bangkok
By ElsieNessie (Creative Commons)
7. ‘Thai Dogs’
By Andrew and Annemarie (Creative Commons)
8. ‘Dog, Chiang Rai’
By chem7 (Creative Commons)
9. ‘Temple Dog’ in Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
By Beach650 (Creative Commons)
10. Stray dog in Thailand
By Andrew and Annemarie (Creative Commons)
11. ‘Amazing Thailand’ in Bang Bat, Bangkok
By Haribote (Creative Commons)
12. ‘Amazing Thailand’ in Sanam Luang, Bangkok
By Haribote (Creative Commons)
13. ‘Adorable Street Puppy in Chiang Mai’
By kzoop (Creative Commons)
14. ‘Dog’ in Bangkok
By jo.sau (Creative Commons)
15. ‘Dog Begging’ in Ubon Ratchathani Station
By Ronn aka “Blue” Aldaman (Creative Commons)
16. ‘Monster vs. Street Dog’ in Chiang Mai
By garycycles (Creative Commons)
17. Dog and kittens in Nonthaburi
By Ronn aka “Blue” Aldaman (Creative Commons)
18. ‘Carlita Lying Down’ in Bangkok
By Hanumann (Creative Commons)
19. ‘Chewbacca’ in Ban Khao Hin Dat
By Bill Heng (Creative Commons)
20. ‘Near Khaosan Road’ in Bangkok
By Aapo Haapanen (Creative Commons)
21. ‘Dog in Bangkok’
By K.rol2007 (Creative Commons)
22. In Prathunam, Bangkok
By Transformer18 (Creative Commons)
23. Stray dog in the temple, in Bangkok
By tofuprod (Creative Commons)
24. ‘Pepsi’ in Koh Samui
By Connie Ma (Creative Commons)
25. Stray dog in Bangkok
By Christer Torjussen (Creative Commons)
26. Stray dogs in the temple in Bangkok
By tofuprod (Creative Commons)
27. ‘Stray Dog, Bangkok’
By Kirill Sokur (Creative Commons)
28. ‘Flexy Doggy in Samui’ in Koh Samui
By Thomas Galvez (Creative Commons)
29. ‘Soi Dog’ in Rayong
By Thai Dogs (Creative Commons)
30. ‘The Doggone Line’
By Dax Ward (Creative Commons)
Take a look at our profile on the rescuer in charge of Thai Street Paws and the work she does every day to give these dogs a better life.
