The number of stray dogs in Thailand is expected to reach one million this year, an official said. Read the following story from the Bangkok Post to learn more about the social problem.
The number of stray dogs in the country will reach one million this year due to a rise in abandoned pets, Wallop Tangkananurak, member of the National Legislative Assembly, said on April 22.
SMELLY SPECIES
Wallop recently chaired a committee to study the pet abandonment issue.
In the committee's view, Wallop said local governments were considered the most suitable institution to oversee homeless dogs. However, the Office of the Auditor-General has yet to approve a budget to address the problem.
Although a number of abandoned dogs are now under the care of private shelters, their operators had to cover huge expenses and received numerous complaints about smell and noise from nearby residents, he said.
SHOT DOGS
Currently, there are about 8.5 million dogs in the country. Of them, about 730,000 are abandoned, according to Wallop.
People who did not adopt homeless dogs and only fed them were also a factor to consider as they do not take responsibility when the dogs cause problems for neighbours.
Meanwhile, two dogs were seriously injured after they were shot in Phitsanulok's Muang district on April 22. The dogs sustained several gunshot wounds to their heads and bodies. Both were sent to a local animal clinic after initially receiving first aid.
POLICE COMPLAINT
Riem Nainet, 59, owner of the dogs, said that shortly after her pets went into a rice paddy next to her house they ran back to her in a distressed manner and were bleeding from several gunshot wounds. Rien added that she had no idea who the gunman was but she will file a complaint with police to bring the perpetrator to justice.
EXERCISES
Read through Exercises and decide whether the following statements are true or false.
1. The number of stray dogs in Thailand is on the rise, according to the story. ………….
2. Riem Nainet is 56 years old. ………….
3. Wallop is a member of the National Legislative Assembly. ………….
4. According to Wallop, there are currently about 9.8 million dogs nationwide. ………….
ANSWERS
EXERCISES
1. True.
2. False.
3. True.
4. False.
stray (adj): having no home
chair (v): to act as the chairman or chairwoman of a meeting or discussion
oversee (v): to watch somebody or something and make sure that a job or an activity is done correctly
abandoned (adj): left and no longer wanted
perpetrator (n): a person who commits a crime or does something that is wrong or evil
