Agriculture minister apologises for pets bill

Officials vaccinate a dog in Ayutthaya province. The agriculture minister on Friday apologised for failing to allay public concern about a new bill requiring dog and cat registration. (File photo)

The agriculture and cooperatives minister has apologised about the dog and cat registration bill but insisted on pushing for its passage with initial free registration and softened impacts.

"As the agriculture ministry proposed the bill, I profusely apologise because the issue was not explained to the public," Minister Grisada Boonrach said on Friday.

The cabinet on Wednesday approved the bill, triggering a public outcry because it sets the cat and dog registration fee at 450 baht each and a fine of up to 25,000 baht on the owners who do not register.

The minister said that the bill to amend the Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animals Act was aimed at promoting the welfare of a large number of pets which were abandoned at temples and public places.

The bill was proposed to the cabinet although the fees and fines had not been clearly set, Mr Grisada said.

"The cabinet and the prime minister agreed that the bill is good in principle but ordered the agriculture ministry to review it with the Council of State so that the registration will not be a public burden," he said.

Mr Grisada said he had not expected the issue would draw so much attention from the public.

Before its submission to the cabinet, the Department of Livestock Development had posted the content of the bill on its website for a month and people had not paid attention to it. But many people shared their opinions after the bill once it reached the cabinet, Mr Grisada said.

After the bill is scrutinised with the Council of State and proposed to the National Legislative Assembly, he will give representatives of concerned parties a chance to comment on the bill.

The minister admitted that people might consider high the 300-baht fee for a required pet microchip. So he might propose a fee exemption for a certain period after the bill is passed.

For organisations that keep many animals such as temples, foundations and pet shops, the bill would set an appropriate number of pets to be exempted from the fee, he said.

Mr Grisada said that actually many people agreed in principle with the bill but did not want another financial burden.

"The bill will be submitted in a way that will benefit all parties and properly protect animals. It will not be delayed and will be done within the tenure of this government," the minister said.