• 
• 

It is estimated that the capital is now home to over 823,000 dogs.

Bangkok's deputy governor Wallop Suwandee yesterday said the dog registration scheme was intended to promote owners' responsibility for their pets.

"It will keep owners from abandoning their dogs on the street," he said at a press conference.

According to Wallop, the dog registration plan is in line with Bangkok Metropolitan Admin-istration regulations on the raising and abandonment of dogs. Stray dogs have become a serious problem in the capital. Pet dogs that sneak out of their confines have also caused problems and have attacked young children.

With the introduction of registration, all pet dogs will be implanted with microchips that will identify their owner. If any dog subsequently causes a problem, officials will be able to trace them to the owner.

Wallop said the BMA would begin registration on Saturday in front of the BMA headquarters. Bangkok deputy clerk Manoj Leetochavalit said the BMA would provide free microchips for three months or until 50,000 of the free microchips run out of stock.

Wallop said dog owners can contact the BMA Rabies Control Division or any of the seven BMA veterinary clinics to register for their dog and get the microchip implant.

The BMA Rabies Control Division is on Mitmaitree Road in Din Daeng district. The BMA veterinary clinics are in Bang Rak, Min Buri, Khlong Toei, Bang Khen, Bangkok Yai, Chom Thong and Bangkok Noi districts.

Manoj said that dog owners could also get their animals implanted with a microchip at certified private clinics at a cost of Bt300 to Bt500. After the implant, they would need to register their dog at their respective district office.

When contacting the district office for dog registration, dog owners must present a microchip-implant certificate, a copy of their identification card and household registration, a rabies-vaccination certificate for dogs less than one year old, and a dog sterilisation certificate.

In cases in which a dog owner is not a house owner, the person must bring along a copy of the house owners' ID card.

From July 4 next year, any dog found unregistered in Bangkok will be sent to a dog kennel in Uthai Thani and its owner will be fined up to Bt5,000.

According to Wallop, puppies in Bangkok must be registered within 120 days of their birth. Any dogs from elsewhere in the country or abroad must be registered within 30 days of relocation to the capital.

Jeerawan Prasomsap,

Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong

The Nation