Government Clarifies PM Did Not Order Pet Abandonment During Floods
A government spokesperson clarified that the Prime Minister never told flood victims to abandon their pets, urging early evacuation before waters rise too high. She said the government is considering creating pet zones in evacuation shelters and encouraged residents to notify authorities about their pets for proper assistance. The spokesperson warned that delaying evacuation to protect pets endangers both people and animals, especially in vulnerable households.
Lalida Pirisriwatthana said the government listens to beneficial proposals but wants everyone to understand the Prime Minister’s intent: urging citizens not to wait until water levels become too high for safe evacuation of both people and animals, not to abandon pets. She noted that for many families pets are family members, but officials do not want owners to delay evacuation out of concern for pets, which complicates rescue efforts and puts both at risk, especially in homes with children, elderly, sick, or vulnerable persons. The spokesperson added that the government is open to considering separate pet areas in shelters, as suggested by the academic, and stressed that solving the problem is not about forcing people to choose between themselves and their pets but managing safe evacuation for both while maintaining hygiene and safety in shelters. She urged residents in at‑risk areas to inform authorities early about the number and type of pets they have so appropriate assistance can be arranged, and provided the hotline 1784 for help.
