Dogs in Pattaya: Street Dogs, Rabies and Owning a Pet

Visitors often ask about the street dogs. Here's my honest take, and what to know if you're thinking of getting a dog yourself.

Are the street dogs a problem?

In my opinion, yes, but only in certain areas. You won't come across them just walking around the city. They're mostly in fairly remote spots, which unfortunately are often the places I like to go running.

In my experience, they don't come near you, bark or go for you unless you startle them. That's happened to me without my knowing: I've run past a hedge with a dog in it, the dog thought I was going to attack it, and it came out blazing. Not my fault, not the dog's fault. We just scared each other.

What should you do if one comes at you?

I bark back at them. It seems to work.

What about rabies?

I've never been bitten, and I don't know anyone who has. But if you are bitten, don't take any chances. Even if the dog looks clean and the risk is slim, once rabies takes hold there's no going back. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and get to a hospital for rabies treatment straight away. For more, read healthcare in Pattaya.

Is Pattaya a good place to own a dog?

I haven't had one myself, though I'd love a dog later in life. Plenty of my friends have dogs, and it can be a good place for them. But there are challenges:

• Breed: choose one that suits the hot climate.
• Walks: there aren't many places to walk a dog, and with the heat it's not always enjoyable.
• Accommodation: very few condos allow pets, so you're almost forced into a house, and some landlords don't want pets in their houses either.

That last one matters most. If you get a pet, your choice of places to live shrinks enormously. For more, read renting a condo in Pattaya and the best area to live in Pattaya.

For more on running here, read staying fit in Pattaya.