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Published on October 6, 2007

 It's the law now. If your doggie isn't microchipped and registered, you can face a Bt5,000 fine and your pooch can be impounded.

 At the launch in Saochingcha, around 3,000 dogs and their owners showed up to comply with the law.

 BMA's Veterinary Public Health Division has now opened free "one-stop" services around town for dog owners who missed last week's launch: the Veterinary Public Health Division office at Din Daeng (02) 245 3311; and BMA vet clinics at Wat Thatong (02) 391 6082; Sriphaya (02) 236 4055, ext 213; Bang Khen (02) 579 1342; Chuangnut-nej (02) 476 6493; Wat Khom Ratanararom (02) 472 5895-6, ext 109; Minburi (02) 714 5822) and Bangkok Noi (02) 411 2432.

 All these clinics are open Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm. The BMA recommends that you take your dog to the Din Daeng facilities, where four or five vets are on hand. At the centres, there's only one vet per clinic, and you might have to wait a longer time.

 The microchip itself is inserted under the skin between the dog's shoulder blades. The wound is extremely small and causes (I'm told) very little pain.

 You don't have to take your dog to these centres if you don't want to. A number of private clinics will microchip your dog for you, but you'll have to pay for this service, between Bt300 and Bt500 per chip. In addition, you still have to register your dog. Your vet fills out a form (which should be available at the clinic) and you take it to one of the 50 district (khet) offices in Bangkok to register your dog.

      Owners interviewed by The Nation during the launch said that they were pleased about the microchipping because if their dog were lost, it could be easily identified.

     Other owners and dog-lovers are not so happy. They feel that the BMA is not organised enough to handle such a massive programme. With estimates of the number of owned dogs (apart from communal dogs) at between 100,000 and 200,000, only around 50,000 chips have been ordered. In addition, BMA vets readily admit that they don't have the budget or resources to enforce the new law. It's unlikely that any non-microchipped dog will be impounded or that fines will be levied against the owner.

 Dog-rescuers express even greater concern. They know how some people discard their dogs when they want to acquire a more popular breed. If they want to get rid of a dog, will these people dig out the microchip and cause the dog considerable pain before dumping it at a wat - or will they simply kill the dog to destroy any evidence of ownership?

 This microchipping and registering programme is still in its early stages. It remains to be seen if the programme will help improve the lives of Bangkok's doggies - or worsen a situation that is already critical in terms of strays: unneutered dogs.

Creature comforts

By Laurie rosenthal