Thailand Makes Animal Abuse a Crime with New Law

“doggie” by Dominik Gubi is licensed under CC BY-NC-NC 2.0

As of November 12, animal cruelty in Thailand is punishable by up to two years in prison and/or a 40,000 baht fine after the Thai government approved the country’s first animal welfare bill, reports the Bangkok Post.

The legal protections extend to domestic pets, animals kept for food, working animals, animals kept for entertainment purposes, wild animals in captivity and animals kept for any other purpose. Additionally it holds owners responsible for an animal’s welfare and living conditions. 

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Co-founder and Vice President of the Soi Dog Foundation, John Dalley, stated in a press release, that the legislation is too vague and “the coming months will indicate whether the authorities are able to enforce the law as it stands now.”

President of the Thai Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Tirapongse Pangsrivongse, also said there need to be further regulations in the law to specify what constitutes animal cruelty. Pangsrivongse also pointed out that people need to be educated on how to prevent cruelty. 

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