CHIANG MAI — Residents have raised alarm over what they describe as a growing army of stray dogs roaming the grounds of Chiang Mai City Hall, saying the animals are intimidating visitors, chasing pedestrians and creating safety concerns at the government complex.
Complaints submitted on 19 June said the number of stray dogs has increased rapidly, with dozens of animals now living in and around the City Hall compound. Visitors reported encountering packs of dogs that bark aggressively, run after people and, in some cases, appear ready to attack.
Some residents claimed the dogs have established territories around the complex, with pack leaders often leading groups that confront passers-by.
A reporter who visited the site found stray dogs scattered throughout the grounds. Several were seen lying in the middle of roads, while others wandered around government buildings. Witnesses said the dogs frequently gather in groups and sometimes chase people walking through the area.
Residents also reported that many of the dogs sleep beneath buildings at night, using spaces under the structures as shelter.
The issue is believed to be a long-standing problem, fuelled in part by pet abandonment and regular feeding by animal lovers. As a result, the dogs have remained in the area and their numbers have continued to grow.
Residents are calling on authorities to take urgent action, including sterilisation programmes, population control measures and the establishment of suitable shelters, warning that the situation could eventually lead to injuries if left unresolved.
“We are worried about safety,” one complainant said. “People come here to contact government offices, not to be chased by packs of dogs.”
