Should the regulations not be met, then the owners of the pets will be liable to pay a fine of B5,000.
The proposed act, which will be added to the existing “Municipality Act”, was discussed at a meeting held last Saturday (July 23) by Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupapana at Baan Bang Niew Municipal School in Phuket Town and attended by local government officials and residents.
During the meeting Mayor Somjai said, “We have received a numbers of complaints from residents regarding issues with cats and dogs such as their health and cleanliness, dogs barking, conflicts between pet owners and also stray dogs.
“To solve these issues we are proposing to set out rules and regulations for when owners let their cats and dogs out in public areas. We need the public’s input into this so we can add these rules and regulations to the existing act.
“If we receive the public’s approval we will first forward the proposal to our committee and then to the Phuket Governor for his approval,” she said.
The Director of the Public Health and Environment division at Phuket City Municipality, Ms Vina Pikunpon, explained to The Phuket News on Tuesday (July 26): “The draft regulations for the Animal Welfare Act 2016 propose the idea of owners keeping their pets, namely dogs and cats, under control and well organised.
“These regulations include keeping dogs on a leash when going into public areas. If pets are taken to public areas they must be to be tame, clean, registered and have all necessary vaccinations” Ms Vina said.
“If we enforce these new regulations we will be able to rid the island of problems such as smelly pets and nuisance noise such as barking. It will also help reduce the number of stray dogs and cats. This draft act will improve the quality of life to our community,” she added.
The draft of regulations for Animal Welfare Act 2016
1.1 Phuket City Municipality will be in charge of pet regulations
1.2 All pets (cats and dogs) must be registered
1.3 Living conditions for pets must be clean. The owner must have the ability to take care of his/her pet including providing clean shelter, food and security. All pets must be kept under control and not cause trouble to other residents.
1.4 If taking a pet out to a public area the owner must carry with them their pet’s identification card (registered at the Phuket City Municipality office) and the animal must be kept on a leash. Dogs such as a Pitbulls, Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, Brazilian Mastiffs, Staffordshire Bull Terriers or similar, or a dog with history of attacking people, should wear a muzzle and be kept on a leash of no more than 50 metres length at all times. If it is a “special control” cat and taken to a public area they should be kept in a cage or secure box.
People under the age of 15 or over 70 who wish to take a Pitbull, Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, Brazilian Mastiff, Staffordshire Bull Terrier or similar, or “special control” cat into a public area can only do so if the animal is kept in a cage or secure box.
1.5. If any pet owner s found to have broken any of the Animal Welfare Act 2016 regulations they will receive a fine of B5,000.
Ms Vina went on to explain that residents should let Phuket City Municipality if their are stray dog in the area know by calling 076 211570 or calling their local municipality office A veterinarian team will then come out and collect the animal and take it to the Phuket stray dog shelter at Bang Kanun National Park.
“If we all agreed with to this proposed act, we will announce seven days after it has been approved by the Phuket Governor and pet owners will have to register their pets within one year,” she said.
“This act 2016 will affect those who live in the Phuket City Municipality boundary area only,” she concluded.