A man in Chiang Rai was arrested for animal cruelty after killing a dog he had recently adopted and allegedly using it for meat. The arrest followed complaints from the dog’s original owner and the Watchdog Thailand Foundation.
Police Colonel Kiattisak Jitprasarn, the head of Mae Chan Police Station, detained the 31-year-old suspect, identified as Ah Seh, for questioning. The complaints from the original owner and the animal rights group came after they failed to get updates on the dog’s wellbeing after it was adopted. The suspect initially claimed the dog had been given to someone else, but local community members raised suspicions, stating that Ah Seh had a history of eating dog meat.
Ah Seh was arrested at his home, where he explained that the dog had been aggressive and, fearing for the safety of the children in his household, he decided to kill the animal. He expressed shock at the public outcry over the incident, apologizing for his actions and stating that he did not consider his behavior illegal or inappropriate.
He further revealed that he had previously adopted and killed other dogs through a Facebook page, including one from an owner in Phayao province. He claimed that he believed it was within his rights as the new owner to do so.
Police Colonel Kiattisak stated that the case would now be forwarded to the Kwaeng Court, with Ah Seh facing charges of animal cruelty. Under Thai law, animal cruelty carries a penalty of up to 40,000 baht in fines, up to two years in prison, or both.
