Pattaya, Thailand
Pattaya City Mayor Poramese Ngampichet, together with Deputy Mayor Manoch Nongyai, the Mayor’s secretarial team, the Vice President of Pattaya City Council, District 3 council members, the Assistant Secretary to the Council President, and the Deputy City Clerk, recently conducted a site visit to Koh Larn to follow up on the issue of stray dogs.
Stray dogs have become a significant problem affecting the island’s image and tourism. Officials from the Soi Dog Foundation were also present to provide information during the visit.
Mayor Poramese Ngampichet revealed that there are currently approximately 800 stray dogs on Koh Larn. So far, Pattaya City has worked with the Soi Dog Foundation to sterilize more than 400 dogs. An additional sterilization campaign is scheduled between April 27th and May 8th, 2026. The mayor called on residents who have information about stray dogs to report them so that sterilization efforts can be carried out more comprehensively.
According to city policy, Pattaya wishes to manage stray dogs as “community dogs.” Only dogs showing aggressive behavior or symptoms of rabies will be captured and taken to shelters in Pattaya for care.
Discussions with Soi Dog Foundation page administrators and local animal lovers revealed that many compassionate tourists often feed the dogs in various areas, which has led to littering and hygiene problems. To address this, Pattaya City has initially agreed to provide 20 sets of food and water containers for the dogs, which should be sufficient to cover the main areas where stray dogs are found.
In addition, the Deputy City Clerk responsible for Koh Larn will be assigned to coordinate with local animal welfare groups to organize a more systematic feeding system. This will include designating 20 specific feeding points for dry dog food across the island. Signs will also be installed to campaign for cooperation from residents and tourists, asking them not to feed dogs in areas that have not been prepared, in order to maintain cleanliness and order on Koh Larn.
News: Miss Khwanjai Sueatrong
Photos: Miss Chinanang Chumchuea
Public Relations Division, Tourism and Sports Office, Pattaya City
