ANECDOTE | EDUCATION

Studying The Soi Dogs of Bangkok

How I developed a methodology for observing stray dogs in their urban habitat

Caring for a soi dog named Mouse. Photo by the author.

Almost half a million stray dogs live on the bustling streets — or sois — of Bangkok. Soi dogs live difficult lives, finding shelter where they can under cars and shopfront awnings, suffering from traffic accidents and health problems, and scavenging for food from wherever they can. But they are also cared for by people who live in Bangkok — organisations, and individuals who work together to improve their welfare.

Many soi dogs are the descendants of the native Thai Ridgeback, but have been bred with other breeds that have been introduced from Europe. Some of these mixes can be traced back hundreds of years whilst others are more recent, the product of interbreeding with abandoned pedigree animals.

I first became interested in soi dogs in 2008, when I traveled to Thailand for the first time. Having just completed my master’s degree in animal studies at the University of Sydney, I would soon be applying for a PhD program in the same field and wanted to establish a study based on my mutual love for travel and animals.

Eventually, I would develop a thesis topic focused on understanding how tourists to South and Southeast Asian…