The 18-square-kilometre island, which has no veterinary facilities, is home to about 6,000 islanders and 140 pet dogs and cats, plus 400 stray dogs. The large stray population is causing concern about the possible spread of diseases from animals to humans. The aims of the Bt500,000 project - conducted by the TSPCA in collaboration with local authorities and Mahidol University's veterinary science faculty - include implementing an animal management programme, boosting tourism, promoting community hygiene and the public's better understanding of animal care, TSPCA secretary-general Sawan Saengbunlang said yesterday. The project would run until June 30. Its activities will include registering pet and stray dogs, vaccination, sterilisation and setting up a temporary shelter. "To complete the circle, we'd push local authorities to build shelters as long-term solutions," Sawan said.

Pets would be registered, vaccinated and sterilised from March 20 to May 5, while strays would be kept at a temporary shelter before undergoing the same procedure from May 6 to June 30, he said. The TSPCA would also go to Sichang School on May 18 and 19 to promote responsible dog ownership, love of animals and pet care.

Mahidol lecturer Piyanan Taweethavonsawat suggested that the TSPCA should campaign against dog abandonment and villagers should set up a group to watch for stray dogs.

Thanapon Yampripirom, from RS Promotion's Young Blood Group, said the project had already influenced him to take better care of his pet dogs. He admitted that he lost interest in his dogs and had mostly neglected them once their cuteness as puppies wore off.

Premyuda Boonroj

The Nation