Major adjustments for city pet guardians: revised regulations ahead
Title: The Upcoming New Year Brings Changes to Bangkok Pet Ownership: A Look at the BMA's New Ordinance
Get ready, pet lovers! A game-changer is on its way for Bangkok's furry friends. Not many have heard the whisper yet, but the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is set to revolutionize pet ownership with their new ordinance, the Animal Keeping and Release Control 2024, coming into effect on January 10, 2026.
It's time to focus on our four-legged friends in the overcrowded condos and bustling streets – yes, we're talking about our cherished dogs and cats. While the regulation intends to tackle stray animal populations and promote responsible ownership, there's already some concern over public awareness and enforcement capabilities.
Keeping the Community Informed
"This doesn't seem like news," says Thong Lor resident and project manager Puchatr Guna-Tilaka, who owns two cats and looks after a neighborhood stray dog. "The BMA should do more than just publishing announcements. They need to bring information straight to neighborhoods – markets, parks, temples – to ensure everyone's aware," he says.
Though Puchatr appreciates the ordinance's intent and particularly its emphasis on responsible pet ownership, he raises concerns about logistical hurdles, most notably the requirement to microchip, register, and document pets. "If services are free, people may still refuse to comply if it's too cumbersome," he warns. His suggestions include deploying mobile clinics and public education drives to boost compliance.
"This won't work unless the BMA enforces it properly – and they should be understanding at first. People need time to understand," Puchatr remarks.
What's Expected of Pet Owners
The new rules include various requirements:
- Owners must microchip and register their pets within 120 days of birth or 30 days after adoption, providing necessary documents, including their national ID, proof of residence, and vaccination or sterilization certificates.
- Dogs in public must be leashed, wear ID tags, and certain breeds (such as Pit Bulls and Rottweilers) must be muzzled. Those handling the breed must be aged between 10 and 65. Failure to comply could lead to fines up to 25,000 baht.
- Limitations on the number of animals allowed per property vary, with six pets being the maximum on larger land plots.
"The law will not be retroactive when it takes effect in January," BMA deputy governor Tavida Kamolvej clarified in a recent media briefing. "Existing pet owners exceeding the limits can continue keeping their pets, but they must register them."
"Love them, take good care of them, avoid causing disturbances, and take them for regular vaccinations," Tavida urges pet owners. "Consider neutering them as well. We don't intend for this to be about punishment, but to encourage responsible ownership."
Learning from the Past
Sittapol Emwisoot, director of the BMA's Veterinary Services Division, acknowledges past missteps, most notably a failed 2005 campaign aimed at distinguishing pets from stray dogs. The key difference now? The ordinance's expanded focus on cats, concerned as they reproduce even faster than dogs.
Sittapol highlights that the previous BMA ordinance in 2005 failed because the public neither saw the benefits nor appreciated the responsibility, and were concerned about potential harm to their pets. "But this time, our goal is to create responsibility among pet owners, tackle abandonment resulting in stray animals, and counter irresponsible pet ownership, which causes problems for dogs and cats," he adds.
The BMA also seeks to control diseases transmitted by animals. "The goal is essentially to reduce animal abandonment while fostering a sense of responsibility in pet owners," Sittapol concludes. Given the increase in feline populations since the COVID-19 pandemic, this includes microchipping and neutering both cats and dogs.
Bridging the Chasm
While the BMA's new ordinance has garnered some support, there remain concerns regarding loopholes, such as exemptions for government-owned animals and vague rules for businesses and shelters, which often need more than 30 days to rehome strays.
Roger Lohnardt, secretary-general of the Thai Animal Guardians Association, praises the ordinance's ambition but emphasizes the need to close gaps, including those involving irresponsible breeding and unregulated animal sales, if the goals are to truly be achieved.
"This could mark a real turning point for animal welfare in Thailand," Dayin Petcharat, founder of SOS Animal Thailand Foundation, agrees. "But only if it's implemented with precision and compassion."
[1] https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2079985/bangkok-devises-strategies-for-pet-control-to-reduce-stray-animals[2] https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2106769/new-rules-ratcheted-up-for-bma-to-control-pet-population[3] https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30406828[4] https://bangkokstreetdogs.org/news/335-bangkok-pets-to-get-microchips-more-grammar-police[5] https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2106770/bangkok-residents-wean-their-pets-before-registering
"To stay informed about the Animal Keeping and Release Control 2024 ordinance, pet owners in Bangkok should be on the lookout for community meetings at local markets, parks, and temples, where the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) will provide information and clarify the new rules."
"As the BMA begins to enforce the new regulations, pet lovers might want to consider creating a home-and-garden space suitable for their pets, ensuring a better lifestyle for their furry friends while complying with the rules on microchipping, registering, and documenting pets."
