Pet microchipping rules could burden owners - Abhisit

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva says, if elected, he would seek a review of a Bangkok regulation requiring dogs and cats to be microchipped, stressing that the measure could place an additional financial burden on pet owners.

Abhisit made the remarks on Tuesday, while campaigning in Bangkok’s Constituency 23, which covers the Phra Khanong and Bang Na districts.

He was accompanied by V Srivarathanabul, the Democrat Party’s candidate for the constituency.

He said people in the capital have expressed concern over a Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) ordinance on the control of pet ownership, enacted in 2024, even though enforcement has been postponed for a year.

Abhisit, a cat lover, said the party would push for practical solutions to address the problem of stray animals, without unfairly burdening responsible pet owners.

City officials have managed to microchip about 50,000 cats and dogs, a tenfold increase over the previous year.

The rise in the number of pets being implanted with microchips clearly indicates cooperation from pet owners, Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said. He noted, though, that hundreds of thousands of cats and dogs have yet to be microchipped.

One problem, he said, is that there are only about 10 facilities in Bangkok offering microchip implantation services, which is insufficient to meet demand.

Another issue is that many pet owners remain concerned about the safety of microchip implantation, highlighting the need for greater public awareness of its benefits and safety.

Meanwhile, Abhisit and his team received a warm reception at the Wachiratham Sathit Worawihan Temple market, with vendors and residents offering flowers and requesting photographs with Abhisit, a former prime minister.

He noted that former MPs and local council members had joined the campaign, underscoring what he described as the party’s deep-rooted connections with local voters.

Residents also raised concerns about the rising cost of living and Abhisit noted that voters expressed appreciation for the Democrat Party’s role in initiating allowances for village health volunteers and welfare payments for the elderly.

Addressing allegations of vote-buying ahead of the election, Abhisit voiced concern over reports that vote buyers were asking voters to photograph their ballots inside polling booths.

He called on the Election Commission to tighten controls, especially on the use of cameras and mobile phones during voting.