Dog registration

Bangkok dog owners now have to register and microchip their pooches by July 4th. Those failing to do so will face fines and risk having their pet taken away. The city estimates that there are more than 800,000 dogs in the city.

While it deters abandonment of dogs by owners, what about the street strays? Most people, even if they have been feeding the dogs in their neighborhood, are not going to bother registering them.

Should the BMA implement a large-scale spay and neuter program to first curb the problem? And then register and microchip? Maybe no one has bothered to spay or neuter in the first place. Tough call.

Happily, cats can stay put and not be on the radar, as is their preference.