The highly revered king, Bhumibol Adulyadej, died Thursday at age 88 after years of illness and was considered a rare unifying figure in the country’s recent tumultuous history. Not only was the King a fair and just leader who was respected and revered by all of Thailand and much of the world but he also was an advocate for the street dogs in Thailand. The world lost a great man on Thursday.
The King had over 18 dogs which he loved dearly and they were often at his side, traveling with him and featured in royal photos. His favorite was named Thong Daeng and he was a street dog. He even wrote a children’s book about his dog Daeng. He advocated the adoption of street dogs often speaking of their virtues and discouraging the import of “luxury pets”. Below is an exert from an article he wrote in 2008.
“…dogs from the street can have all the desirable qualities that one could want from pet dogs. Most adopted stray dogs are usually humble and exceptionally faithful to their owners as if they are grateful for this kindness. Moreover, they are not inferior to imported dogs in terms of intelligence. Some are attractive or have a distinctive smart look like Thongdaeng. In this country, there are thousands to choose from. They are, in fact, too numerous, but if the authorities would help, many people would be more than willing to give a suitable home for these dogs. It would help to solve part of the problem of dangerous stray dogs as well as reduce the import of expensive “luxury pets” which take a toll on the economy of the country. Therefore, we should encourage the improvement of the existing varieties of Thai dogs, which can provide good looking as well as faithful pets.”