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’
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-10.jpg)
By Torjussen (Creative Commons)
2. ‘Thailand: Precious Baby’
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-1.jpg)
By eliduke (Creative Commons)
3. Temple dog in Koh Phangan
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-26.jpg)
By Edahn Small (Creative Commons)
4. ‘Amazing Thailand’ – Bang Bat, Bangkok
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-12.jpg)
By haribote (Creative Commons)
5. ‘Phuket Street Pup’
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-11.jpg)
By Cat Burton (Creative Commons)
6. ‘Feeding’ in Bangkok
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-8.jpg)
By ElsieNessie (Creative Commons)
7. ‘Thai Dogs’
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-7.jpg)
By Andrew and Annemarie (Creative Commons)
8. ‘Dog, Chiang Rai’
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-5.jpg)
By chem7 (Creative Commons)
9. ‘Temple Dog’ in Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-4.jpg)
By Beach650 (Creative Commons)
10. Stray dog in Thailand
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-34.jpg)
By Andrew and Annemarie (Creative Commons)
11. ‘Amazing Thailand’ in Bang Bat, Bangkok
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-33.jpg)
By Haribote (Creative Commons)
12. ‘Amazing Thailand’ in Sanam Luang, Bangkok
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-32.jpg)
By Haribote (Creative Commons)
13. ‘Adorable Street Puppy in Chiang Mai’
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-31.jpg)
By kzoop (Creative Commons)
14. ‘Dog’ in Bangkok
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-30.jpg)
By jo.sau (Creative Commons)
15. ‘Dog Begging’ in Ubon Ratchathani Station
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-29-1.jpg)
By Ronn aka “Blue” Aldaman (Creative Commons)
16. ‘Monster vs. Street Dog’ in Chiang Mai
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-28.jpg)
By garycycles (Creative Commons)
17. Dog and kittens in Nonthaburi
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-27.jpg)
By Ronn aka “Blue” Aldaman (Creative Commons)
18. ‘Carlita Lying Down’ in Bangkok
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-25.jpg)
By Hanumann (Creative Commons)
19. ‘Chewbacca’ in Ban Khao Hin Dat
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-24.jpg)
By Bill Heng (Creative Commons)
20. ‘Near Khaosan Road’ in Bangkok
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-23.jpg)
By Aapo Haapanen (Creative Commons)
21. ‘Dog in Bangkok’
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-22.jpg)
By K.rol2007 (Creative Commons)
22. In Prathunam, Bangkok
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-21.jpg)
By Transformer18 (Creative Commons)
23. Stray dog in the temple, in Bangkok
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-20.jpg)
By tofuprod (Creative Commons)
24. ‘Pepsi’ in Koh Samui
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-19.jpg)
By Connie Ma (Creative Commons)
25. Stray dog in Bangkok
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-18.jpg)
By Christer Torjussen (Creative Commons)
26. Stray dogs in the temple in Bangkok
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-17.jpg)
By tofuprod (Creative Commons)
27. ‘Stray Dog, Bangkok’
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-16.jpg)
By Kirill Sokur (Creative Commons)
28. ‘Flexy Doggy in Samui’ in Koh Samui
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-15.jpg)
By Thomas Galvez (Creative Commons)
29. ‘Soi Dog’ in Rayong
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-14.jpg)
By Thai Dogs (Creative Commons)
30. ‘The Doggone Line’
![thailand street dogs](https://whatsonsukhumvit.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/thailand-street-dogs-13.jpg)
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.