Bangkok - The London-based World Society for the Protection of Animals has set up its Asian headquarters in Bangkok, media reports said Friday. "Our ambition is to create a world in which animals are regarded as sentient and whose needs are understood, regulated and protected by enforced legislation," WSPA director-general Peter Davies told The Nation newspaper.
The society chose Bangkok for its Asian headquarters because of the kingdom's "religions encompassing animal welfare," said Davies, in an apparent reference to Buddhism.
The vast majority of Thai people profess Buddhism, a world religion that prohibits the killing and abuse of animals.
As a result, Thailand suffers a huge societal problem with stray dogs and an unusually high rate of rabies cases among humans for a medium-developed nation.
"Every country has too many stray and unwanted dogs," said Davies, who added it was necessary to educate the public on animal welfare and require registration of dog owners.
