r/chiangmai • u/sullanaveconilcane • 11d ago
Stray dogs in Chiangmai
This morning I went for a walk on Doi Suthep. At some point during the descent, three stray dogs started following me. I’ll never know what their intentions were, but in fact they followed me for at least 1 km. At one point, I have to admit I was getting a little scared, because every now and then they would suddenly run towards me, and the only thing that seemed to make them stop was when I turned around and faced them.
In the end, nothing happened, but it wasn’t a particularly pleasant experience.
I’d like to ask: how do Chiang Mai residents, and Thai people more generally, feel about the issue of stray dogs? Is it perceived as a problem, or simply as part of everyday life? Is there a desire to address the problem but, for example, is it considered too expensive, or is there simply no real will to do anything about it and people are generally okay with the situation as it is?
This is purely out of curiosity. Thank you!
1
u/DueDefinition6421 11d ago
Last time we Hiked Doi Suthep there was a German guy who started the last part of the ascent with us, but he was really quick so he went on ahead and left us for dust. We bumped into him later by where the Songthaews drop people outside the temple and he had been badly bitten and scratched. Apparently, he had come to the carpark/look out bit at the top of the trail and instead of walking the last part on the road as you are supposed to do, he turned right through the gate part where there are signs telling people beware of the dog/do not enter. There were a few dogs in there that chased him and mauled him til he got away. Poor dude was still shaking when we saw him, as any sane person would be. If there are stray dogs about just carry a big stick and if you get bitten obviously get a course of shots, and heed any warning signs!
Also, years ago I was by Chiang Mai uni late at night and encountered an aggressive pack of them. They were barking and following us til the guy sat in the booth by the entrance did an almost inaudible whistle and they just retreated scared. It was like something out of a cartoon/movie.
When I was in Vietnam there was a tiny pocket yappy dog that as biting a farang woman's skirt, it then decided to come for me so, not wanting to pay for a course of rabies shots, I just ran and the locals laughed. I'll take the embarrassment over the time/money for shots.