Finding other solutions is not so easy. The government, and a few private citizens, are trying to set up dog pounds, or at least areas where unwanted or stray dogs can be sequestered. In some cases, two to four rai have been set aside for these projects to care for thousands of dogs.

These massive areas have their own problems. It's not so easy to set up a dog area, which requires more than wire fencing around the perimeter. Walls must be built high enough to discourage the most skilful canine jumper and low enough to keep puppies from wandering away.

Inside, areas must be divided up so that the dogs can be kept together in smaller numbers according to size, temperament and health status. A clinic should be built and staffed with qualified vets, not government employees incompetent to fill any other position.

Since larger dog areas are usually in distant locations, staff quarters must be built, emergency medical attention for humans put in place, food and necessities made available.

How do you feed a large number of dogs? Some officials have appealed to hotels and restaurants for leftover food, but a distribution system with trucks and so on, must be set up. Hotel leftovers, though, are not the best food for dogs or humans, and somehow, a budget needs to be set aside to handle the costs of proper dog food.

We're already talking millions of baht, but there's another problem that money cannot solve. What do you do with people who think they can abandon their dogs at wats, homes of dog-rescuers and the sides of roads where speeding vehicles will eliminate their canine problems?

Not being Buddhist, I'm considering torture, which is, alas, against the law, unlike abandoning animals.

Apart from their spay-and-neuter programmes, private dog-rescuers look for homes for rescued puppies, knowing that older dogs are unlikely to be adopted.

With over 80 dogs in her care, however, Tharinee "Carrie" Wipuchanin of dog-rescue group Pic-A-Pet4Home is considering an innovation.

You foreign families out there who are living in Thailand for two or three years!

Do you yearn for canine companionship but are unwilling to make a lifetime commitment to a dog? Carrie wants to rent you one (or two) of her older dogs.

You would be responsible for food, upkeep and companionship as long as you live here. Any health problems would be handled by you and Carrie. When you leave the country, Carrie will take the doggie back - unless you've fallen in love with him and are willing to make that lifetime commitment.

You can rescue dogs by the thousands, or just one at a time. 

Questions about your pets? Fax (02) 751 4446 or e-mail laurie@nationgroup.com.

By Laurie Rosenthal