Registration of pet shops in Chatuchak Sunday market will soon be a must after a woman who was selling dogs there died recently of rabies, a senior Bangkok Metropolitan Administration veterinarian said yesterday.
Most pets sold are younger than one month old - too young for vaccination by shop owners, thus requiring buyers to get them vaccinated, said Janthra Singchai, who added that most buyers of pets were not aware that vaccination is mandatory for preventing rabies and other diseases.
Tracing of records was underway to seek people who bought dogs from the Take Care Pet Shop, owned by the unnamed woman, who was a Public Health Ministry official and raised her rabiesinfected Rottweiler for three years. Janthra said media reports over the woman's death could prompt buyers to get their dogs vaccinated.
Mandatory registration of pet shops and records of pets sold will soon be imposed on pet shops in other Bangkok areas. Another rule to be soon imposed is that dogs and pets be kept in cages. Now they are often left outside cages and walk around to attract buyers' attention.
An inspection of Chatuchak market will be made today and free vaccination will be provided to pet shops.
The Public Health Ministry said regulations and vaccination would soon be imposed on pet shops outside Bangkok, and provincial public health officials will soon survey and register pet shops in their jurisdiction.
