Temple overflowing with abandoned pets, abbot seeks help

18 กุมภาพันธ์ 2559

Judging from readers' comments, the problem of abandoned pets at temples is not an isolated one.

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Abbot seeks help over abandoned pets at temple

Supapong Chaolan

An abbot at a Surat Thani temple appealed to the public on Wednesday to not abandon their unwanted pet dogs and cats at the monastery as the number has increased sharply and is causing problems for the monks.

Phra Kru Winaithorn Pichaisitwichayo, abbot of Wat Koh Dhamma Prateep in tambon Tha Karm of Phunphin district, said dogs and cats had always been abandoned by their owners at the temple and a public park nearby in recent years but the number has grown quickly to over 100 in recent months.

“The temple has been facing more expenses because it is small and has only five monks. The animals are fed on leftovers after the monks eat food obtained from the morning alms round each day, but it is not enough for all of them,” Phra Kru Winaithorn said.

Some people asked to leave their pets at the temple temporarily but never returned to collect them. This has caused inconvenience to the monks and people living near the temple, he said.

Phra Kru Winaithorn called on concerned agencies to help the temple look after the animals, including providing vaccinations, sterilisation or finding shelter.

“I want to beg people to stop taking unwanted dogs and cats and leaving them at the temple,” he said.

Thanorm Sutthisarn, 54, a resident who helps care for the discarded animals, assumed people leave their pets due to economic reasons and this had caused an increasing number of the forsaken animals at the temple.

She said it cost about 200 baht to feed the animals each day, not to mention additional expenses for medical fees when a dog or cat got sick.

“They are fed on leftover foods mixed with pet food pellets in the morning. And food pellets only in the evening,” Mrs Thanorm added.

“I am asking donors to help or to support the expenses involved in feeding the animals.”

From the comments from readers (of the Bangkok Post story), this problem is not confined to a single temple:

"I know a woman that loves puppies. Once they are grown she finds them to be a nuisance. Again more puppies, which have also grown up. She is the dog. I do my best to feed them, but she is the one that infested my neighborhood with her selfishness."

"Then the dogs stray and howl all night in turf wars with local dogs. Good grief! Can't get a good night's sleep near a temple."

"Its called spaying and neutering and the government should be doing it. Abandoning a pet is disgraceful."