Soi Dog pursue successful case of pet abandonment against Phuket expat

[webfact 78,580]

Soi Dog pursue successful case of pet abandonment against Phuket expat

 

 

A Phuket Ex pat got more than he bargained for when he took the decision to abandon his pet dog ‘Jonney Cash’ in a heavy storm on the road outside Soi Dog Foundation’s shelter. After dumping the dog on September 19 and driving off, little did he know that his actions were clearly caught on CCTV. Nor that a member of Soi Dog staff saw what had happened and rescued the dog that was running down the road vainly trying to catch up his with beloved owner, and in danger of being hit by traffic.

 

 

As well as being a cruel and despicable act, abandoning a dog is also illegal in Thailand. Thachatchai police later tracked down ‘Mr.R’, an Irishman who has lived in Phuket for a number of years, and filed charges against him under The Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animal Act.

 

Pleading guilty, he was fined 2,000 THB by the court and his information and fingerprints recorded into the criminal record system. From now, if he comes to Thailand and requests for a criminal background check, this record will be shown.

 

 

Deputy Superintendent Watcharin Jirattikarnpiwat of Thachatchai Police Station confirmed that ‘Mr.R’ had paid a fine and received a criminal record already. He added that “One of the main stray dog problems in Thailand is because lack of pet owner responsibilities, and we hope that this story serves as an obvious example of legal action that will be taken against the abandoning of pet dogs and cats”.  Mr.Watcharin also urged the public to report any cases of pet animal abandonment to the police. “Animal Cruelty Acts might be a new thing for Thais compared with other laws. I am glad that the story will be published, this is not just the duty of the police or of Soi Dog, everyone can step in. Because without society change, law change is useless”.

 

 

Asked to comment on the case, John Dalley MBE, President of Soi Dog Foundation International, remarked that although ‘Mr.R’ had written to him 2 weeks after the event, describing it as a moment of madness, it was noticeable that he never once asked if the dog had been found or if it was safe in the care of Soi Dog. “The CCTV footage clearly shows it as a premeditated act. Had it been a moment of madness then surely he would want to know that the dog was unharmed”.

 

Regarding the penalty, Mr. Dalley remarked that although he felt the fine imposed was derisory, when one considers it costs on average 2,700 THB per month to keep a dog at the shelter, it was very pleasing that the authorities had acted.

 

 

“If people have a genuine reason that they are unable to keep a pet, then we will always try to help. Dumping a dog in a strange environment in heavy rain, driving away and putting its life in danger are not the actions of a concerned owner”, Mr. Dalley added.

 

Click HERE for video

 

-- 2020-10-22

[englishoak 9,571]

Because Thais care so much about their animals right ? ... give me a break...

[colinneil 74,103]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

As well as being a cruel and despicable act, abandoning a dog is also illegal in Thailand.

That is a laughable comment, dogs are abandoned here almost daily, nothing is ever done to the owners, except of course if they expats.

[donnacha 5,402]

Embarrassed that an Irish guy did this.

I can sort of understand why Thais do it, most have no idea how to handle a dog (or, indeed, most aspects of life), but I'd expect more of a fellow Irishman.

He should actually be named-and-shamed so that it can be reported on the news back in Ireland and his family and friends get to hear about it. Now that would be a real disincentive.

[Jack Mountain 1,779]

There goes my respect for John Dalley MBE, President of Soi Dog Foundation International.   Snitchboy ...

[canopus1969 7,766]

55 minutes ago, englishoak said:

Because Thais care so much about their animals right ? ... give me a break...

So you think it's ok just to take your pets out and dump them once you have had enough of them ?

[yosuik 24]

The criminal sense of a snitch will provide information to police in order to obtain lenient treatment for themselves and provide information over an extended period of time in return for money or for police to overlook their own criminal activities. Quite often someone will become an informant following their arrest.

In other words a snitch is not the innocent person who has a serial-killer living next door so he tells the police to get the trash out of the community, a snitch is one who is selling dope or doing some other bad thing and gets caught, but instead of taking their own punishment like a man, tell the authorities info on other criminals so they can get off scott free or reduce their own punishment. That's a Snitch!

 

Unless you understood what that means and know about something we don't... it doesn't make sense to read the article and call the guy a snitch, let alone a snitchboy.

 

Whereas, if it's someone who always feels the need to snitch, even when it really isn't their business, that would be a "Snitch-b*tch", not "Snitchboy".

 

Sorry if it looks like I'm trolling you, I actually learned a bit looking it up myself tbh, but it just doesn't seem right after reading the article to name the accuser a snitchboy, unless he really is one. Care to explain?

[nausea 4,612]

Well, I suppose you think you have a duty of care to those dependent on you or you don't. And I would put women in that category, non PC as that might be. Personally, I've always tried to avoid committment for precisely that reason - fat chance, life drags you in.

[Orton Rd 16,219]

Spy dog foundation, only another few million cases to get through. At least the guy dropped off the dog at the right place, they love strays, where would they be without them?

[Silencer 354]

It did not say in the article, and I don't condone what he did, but did he purposefully abandon the dog near the shelter in hopes it would be found by them (that would be my guess). 

 

Agree about this being routine practice in every small village. Millions of puppies abandoned to fend for themselves but lets make an example of the foreigner.

[johng 17,123]

[Wuvu2 157]

"considers it costs on average 2,700 THB per month to keep a dog at the shelter"   Say what???   What's the overhead at Soi Dog Foundation?

 

There are many Thai families that don't enjoy an income of 2,700 per person per month! 

[colinneil 74,103]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

when one considers it costs on average 2,700 THB per month to keep a dog at the shelter.

Why does it cost so much?

Certainly not food costs, my 2 dogs are well fed, chicken bone mince/ rice/ complete  dog food.

Costs me around 30 baht per day for 2 dogs.

So how many staff employed? What are they paid ?

Or is the management of the shelter enjoying a very good lifestyle?

[PatOngo 44,295]

5 hours ago, colinneil said:

That is a laughable comment, dogs are abandoned here almost daily, nothing is ever done to the owners, except of course if they expats.

Well put! It is a disgrace the way the local population treat dogs, no responsibility but always someone to feed them leftover rice! Mongrel, scrawny dogs everywhere, barking at will, day and night and nobody cares! 

[PatOngo 44,295]

4 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

So you think it's ok just to take your pets out and dump them once you have had enough of them ?

 

I think you miss the point, there are abandoned soi dogs everywhere in Thailand and it is in 99.95% of cases, not foreigners who abandon them!