Sure, Thailand is full things that seem weird to Westerners. After all, T.I.T. “This is Thailand” is the mantra of expats, uttered to sooth their frayed nerves. But all in all, it’s a fun adventure, and a very old, complex culture.
There is one, single thing, however, which just really pisses me off: their refusal to take responsibility for their pets and have them spayed or neutered.
Everywhere I go, I see stray dogs and cats. Many of them mangy, mangled, bleeding. One near Nakhon Si Tammarat was virtually hairless, obviously confused, and drooling profusely while standing in the middle of the road. Perhaps he was in the process of being poisoned?
I hear that’s how they deal with it here, by the way. Every now and then, they just go around poisoning all the stray dogs. There aren’t a whole lot of worse ways to die than poisoning.
I’m told that this is all because of their Buddhist belief system. I don’t know if it’s a refusal to “harm” animals, or if it’s some sort of “things work themselves out” attitude. Either way, it’s short-sighted, cruel, and indisputably irresponsible.
Here’s the core of the issue: dogs are the creation of humans. We domesticated them, and bred them into loyal companions, helpers, and protectors. We are 100% responsible for the existence and well-being of these creatures.
My personal belief system happens to consider both the negative repercussions of actions *and* inaction. Just as it would be wrong to bring harm to a creature, so too would it be wrong to stand idly by and allow such harm to occur.
So, the one and only thing that I will simply judge as wrong and terrible is the Thai treatment of dogs.
(incidentally, this all applies to cats, too, they just happen to stay out of sight more, so it’s less heart-wrenching)
At least one foundation is trying to help, here in Phuket:
http://www.soidog-foundation.org