Bt8m budget sought for Phuket stray shelter

The shelter is located on 4 rai with about 500 dogs, and has been in operation since 2003 but was identified as having low hygiene standards.

“The governor wants to renovate the shelter as a place that is more welcoming to visitors and serves as a better home for the dogs living there,” Phuket Lifestock Office chief Surajit Witchuwan said. “The approved budget last year was Bt1.5 million to fix the roof of the 14 cages and to improve the cages as well as build a staff compound, clinic, and a separate building for sick dogs.”
“We also received a Bt10-million budget from the local administration organisation for public utility fees, staff wages, medical supplies, dog food and other support for the renovations,” Surajit said.
The committee is seeking approval of another Bt8 million in the new year’s budget to build a two-storey “condo” for dogs.

“This will help support more dogs. The building is being designed in detail with plans to transform waste into gas. Also, we are looking into sanitation improvements and a dog statue landmark at the entrance to welcome more helpers, locally and internationally,” Surajit said.
“There are 400-500 dogs here and it costs Bt300,000 per month to maintain them. We will install donation boxes in the malls and other landmarks under PKCD Foundation (Phuket City Development Foundation)
He said irresponsible owners, who dump their pets when they were bored with them, were the cause of stray dogs.
“This increases, unnecessarily, the stray dog population. Dog owners should take responsibility for their dogs until the last day of their life.”

Source: https://www.phuketgazette.net/news/8-million-baht-budget-approved-government-stray-dog-shelter