Thai Hell Hounds only reflecting their human surroundings
Re: “A few straight questions for Thailand’s dog-lovers”, Have Your Say, June 7.
“Tubes of Filth?” or “Man’s Best Friend”? As one who has had the pleasure of the company of 17 “tubes of filth” since arriving in Thailand – all strays – and with my present pack of five such “tubes”, I am inclined to the latter view.
Mr Suff, with his hypothetical “Fwuffy”, has conflated several doggist issues into one. Yes – there is a twofold problem in urban areas. The first is that many people keep dogs in captivity in their homes, an alien environment, which leads to the neurotic problems he raises. One may note that all of “Dog Whisperer” Cesar Millan’s male “tubes of filth” are castrated, which is a rather brutal way of tackling the problem. The second issue is that almost all urban street dogs are born in the semi-wild, and the Thais, being a compassionate people, will feed dogs that they see in their neighbourhood, hence an eventual problem of overpopulation.
But in rural areas it is different. In my village of 80 households there are around 30 dogs and few of the problems that one encounters in town. The dogs live outside, are free to roam in a natural environment, they respect each others’ territories, they are friendly, there is no poop underfoot, no yelping. Dogs, humans and farm animals live in harmony.
What Suff fails to appreciate is the symbiotic, social bond between humans and dogs that goes back 13,000 years. Psychologists report the benefits of “dog therapy” for the sick and in the raising of children. There are also lessons for humanity in their behaviour: a dog renders absolute loyalty to its master, defends its territory, and is dignified in its suffering; only someone with a heart of stone can fail to be moved when his dying dog greets him with a wag of its tail.
In response to Ye Olde Dog Lover’s question about transforming a vicious feral dog into a loving pet – yes, I’ve done that in an Arab country – but that story must await another day. “Fwuffy” is outside wagging his tail, so it’s time to refuel my “tubes of filth”!
Nigel Pike
Phang Nga
