Authorities are pursuing legal action against a foreign resident in Bang Saphan District after one of his dogs bit a 76-year-old Swiss tourist on Bang Saphan Beach, highlighting a long-standing issue of aggressive dogs in the area.
On Tuesday, local residents and expatriates met with tourist police and other officials to address the situation. The meeting followed complaints from both Thai and foreign tourists about a pack of six dogs owned by the foreigner, which had reportedly caused disturbances and injured people on Suan Luang Beach, a popular spot in Pong Prasat Subdistrict.
According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Anatchai Kontong, Superintendent of Hua Hin Tourist Police, a team comprising officers from the Tourist Police, Bang Saphan Police Station, and the Bang Saphan District Office, along with the district livestock officer and other relevant agencies, inspected the site following the incident.
Bang Saphan District Chief Suthin Prasertsak stated that the problem had persisted for several years, with authorities now adopting two key measures to resolve the situation.
Firstly, Bang Saphan Police Station will take legal action against the dog owner under Section 377 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to “being the controller of dangerous animals, negligently allowing them to cause harm to individuals.” The police are currently gathering evidence to support the case, which will be referred to the Tourist Police and Immigration Police to assess the dog owner’s behaviour and legal status.
Secondly, the Bang Saphan District Livestock Office will handle the six dogs in accordance with local animal control regulations. The foreigner has been ordered to cease keeping the dogs for 30 days to allow for the legal process to proceed.
The incident has drawn attention to ongoing concerns about the dogs with regards to public safety on Bang Saphan Beach. Officials are now taking steps to prevent further harm to locals and tourists.