Pattaya Mayor Denies Reports of Forest Land Request for Dump
Pattaya's mayor denied reports that the city requested forest land for a garbage dump, clarifying instead that informal consultations are underway to find suitable land for a stray dog center serving the wider district.
Pattaya Mayor Pramesuan Gampichet has denied inaccurate reports about the municipality's plans, saying the claims of requesting forest land for a garbage dump and dog shelter are baseless. The mayor explained that Pattaya is seriously tackling the stray dog problem through ongoing neutering, vaccination against rabies, and a memorandum of understanding with Pong Subdistrict Municipality to transfer dogs to local shelters.
The mayor noted that current legal constraints limit the number of dogs the municipality can accept and restrict budget use to food and caretaker wages only. To work more comprehensively and efficiently, Pattaya officials have informally consulted with forest officials about finding suitable land for a stray dog center covering the entire Bang Lamung District. The proposed area would include reforestation, water sources, and public parks while preventing forest encroachment.
The mayor outlined four legal steps: first, the municipal council must approve operations outside municipal boundaries—which has already been passed; second, a community meeting must be held by the responsible subdistrict municipality; third, formal permission must be requested from the Department of Forests; and fourth, the Department of Forests must grant approval. The mayor emphasized that the project is currently in the study phase and no construction or facility has been established. He stressed that the stray dog problem requires serious public attention and cooperation.
