I’ve been told by a reader there are reports on the forums of dog bites being a problem.  Without question there are more dogs running loose here than I’ve ever experience back home.  No doubt the same is true in many other developing countries. Logic dictates that with so many left to roam free the odds of being attacked are greater.  Logic aside, I don’t perceive it to be a problem, as my frequent wanderings into back streets brings me into contact with them more so than most might experience, and I’ve never had a problem.

The stray dogs here in Thailand don’t give much feedback.  I’m talking about things such as eye contact and tail wagging.  For this reason it’s difficult to judge their temperament.  Even so, a little common sense goes a long way in avoid dog attacks.

Dogs tend to be territorial, so whenever possible I avoid intentionally invading their space.  If I happen onto one accidentally I’ll try and take a wide path around it, and avoid making any sudden movements that might trigger the dog’s defenses.  I never take my eyes off of a dog as I’m passing it, because attacks most often come from behind when the dog knows you are not watching.   I never interact with a dog, physically or verbally.  Not that you would ever want to touch one as most are filthy.

I was once walking down a narrow path next to a canal and encountered a Pit Bull.  Its owner was close by, so I asked him, “OK?”  He nodded and motioned me to continue.  As I passed the dog he nearly licked me to death.  On another occasion I was walking on a back city street and happened onto an aggressive German Sheppard that was chained, but had full reach of the sidewalk I was on.  The owner was there washing his car, and obviously telling the dog to quite down.  None the less I decided it would be best to walk in the street until passed the dog’s reach.

I have noticed that Thai dog owners chain their pet if it has a reputation for biting people.  Thus, it would be unwise to approach any dog that’s been tethered.

At this point in my draft of this piece Princess dropped by, so I asked about the dog situation in Thailand.  He had many interesting things to say.

First he told me the problem is much worse in rural Thailand.   He explained that in big cities like Bangkok the government picks up strays.  I questioned this, reminding him of a neighborhood we used to visit frequently that had about 30 dogs running loose.  He said they have all been removed by the government now.  I didn’t ask what their fate was, but I think that’s a given.

Princess said he is very afraid of the dogs that have a home, because “they have more power” and therefore are more aggressive in protecting their “area” territory.  Those that are homeless, he said, “have no power” and are very shy and passive.  Then he hunched down to demonstrate a dog cowering.  This explains the lack of feedback I’ve observed in strays.

He did say that strays running in packs can be a bit more aggressive than a lone dog, but it’s usually not a problem.  I asked what a neighborhood does when a mean dog is identified, and he said the problem is quickly addressed, as parents don’t want their little children being attacked.  I didn’t ask how the problem is addressed, but assume in most cases the dog is chained up.

Princess told me the only exception is with strays that get “the virus” rabies.  He said, “We have to kill the dog when this happen.”  I asked if rabies was a big problem, and he said no.  Of course, he has nothing to gage that against, so I did some research on the Internet and found that rabies is indeed a big problem in Thailand and other parts of Asia.  The highest concentration of rabies infected dogs is within the central region of Thailand, which includes Bangkok.  The highest concentration of infection within the region is in Bangkok.  The highest concentration of the infected dog population, in Bangkok, is among strays.

Further research revealed a general consensus that getting a rabies vaccination before traveling to Thailand is a worthwhile consideration, if you plan to travel into remote areas.  The vaccine is expensive and does not protect you from having to receive treatment, if bitten.  All the vaccination does is buy you some time.  Best I can determine you should get the vaccination if you think it will take longer than 24 hours to reach a hospital after receiving an animal bite, or being licked in a spot that already has an open wound.

According to the information I found on the Internet, any animal can be infected by rabies, but the most common in Thailand are dogs, bats and monkeys.  I also discovered there are two basic types of rabies, one usually makes the animal aggressive and the other does not.  If left untreated both will result in neurological damage or death!

As of this writing my novice conclusions are there is a greater risk of being attacked by a dog that is being cared for than those that are not, but a higher probability of rabies infection from strays.  It is moot really, as any bite, scratch or open wound lick from an animal in Thailand should be followed immediately by a trip to the hospital for evaluation.