TSPCA Submits 5 Proposals to Amend Animal Welfare Act
The TSPCA has submitted five legislative proposals to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul aimed at strengthening Thailand's 2014 Animal Welfare Act. Key proposals include extending legal protection to additional wild species, addressing the surging stray dog population, mandating registration for dangerous pets, increasing enforcement personnel, and clarifying self-defense rules against animal attacks.
The Thailand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TSPCA) submitted five proposals to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on November 4, 2026, at the Government's 1111 Complaint Center in Bangkok. The organization seeks to amend the 2014 Prevention of Animal Cruelty and Welfare Act to create sustainable social equity and better protect animals from cruelty.
Dr. Sathit Prachanoriyakul, TSPCA Secretary-General and Director, and a qualified committee member of the Animal Cruelty Prevention and Welfare Committee, revealed that after more than 11 years of enforcement, the current act provides fairly comprehensive coverage. However, changing social contexts require amendments to enhance the law's effectiveness and better reflect its original intent.
The five proposals are: 1. Extend protection to more than five wild species living in nature, including Prevost's squirrels, chestnut-headed bee-eaters, big cat hybrids, wild boars, and hog deer or common barking deer. These animals currently face cruelty and inadequate welfare but many cases cannot be prosecuted. 2. Clarify ownership of ownerless animals. The Department of Livestock Development found stray dogs have increased nearly fivefold over 10 years, with continued growth expected. Unaddressed stray dog issues lead to social problems including attacks, community conflicts, and disease spread such as rabies. 3. Mandate registration for certain pets, including controlled or dangerous animals. Following numerous dog bite incidents involving children, special registration would ensure owner accountability. 4. Add more officials and assistant officials. Current enforcement lacks effectiveness in some cases due to absence of complainants, witnesses, or forensic evidence, preventing prosecution. 5. Clarify rules on killing animals when necessary to prevent danger to human or animal life, or property damage. Strict interpretation currently leaves no proportional options when defending against dangerous animals, with examples of dogs severely biting children but no one daring to intervene.
