UDON THANI — Police in Chiang Yuen district, Udon Thani, arrested a 49-year-old man after he was caught preparing a dog carcass for cooking at his home, following a social media post that sparked outrage among local animal lovers.
The incident came to light when Facebook user Ploy Manita shared images of a man sitting on a wooden platform with trays of meat, alongside another man holding plastic bags of what appeared to be portions of the meat. She wrote, “Is it really necessary to go this far for hunger?” and asked for advice on how to press charges, tagging local authorities and noting the case as a clear violation of Thailand’s animal welfare laws.
At 11.00 on 2 April, police from the Huai Luang Subdistrict Police Station arrived at the house in Chiang Yuen subdistrict. They found the suspect, identified as Bangkok Khokpho, or “Gok,” cooking meat in a pot with herbs and spices, including chilies, shallots, lemongrass, and kaffir lime leaves, in preparation for a local dish known as Hyoi.
When confronted, Gok admitted the meat was dog, claiming the animal had been hit by a car. He said the dog’s owner had asked him to bury it in exchange for a bottle of local white liquor, but he instead brought the dog home to cook. He told police he had eaten dog meat before and liked the taste, and admitted he knew it was illegal but insisted he had not killed the animal himself.
Ploy, 24, who posted the images online, said she was shocked and heartbroken, emphasizing that the dog might have had an owner. “If you have nothing to eat, go work or buy food like everyone else. There’s plenty of pork, fish, and chicken. Leave the dogs alone,” she wrote. She added that the suspect was known locally as a drinker and drug user who did not work, and that a similar dog had disappeared in the area last year under suspicious circumstances.
Authorities seized the cooked dog meat and conducted a urine test, which came back positive for methamphetamine. Gok admitted to using meth the previous day. He was charged with possession and use of a Category 1 narcotic and animal cruelty under Thailand’s animal welfare law. He remains in police custody pending further legal proceedings.