UDON THANI– A heartbreaking event in Udon Thani has left a family and their entire community grieving, and once again triggered debate about pit bulls and Thailand’s dog regulations.
On Tuesday, a two-month-old girl was pulled from her stroller and savagely killed by a pit bull named Big in the Ban Rong Si Mai village, Thung Pho subdistrict, Nong Chang district. This fatal attack has prompted fresh concern about the lack of strict rules for dangerous breeds in the country, especially as similar incidents have happened before.
Based on reports from Nong Chang Police Station, the attack took place at around 2:40 p.m. The baby’s parents, Dusit Salee and Kanthima Anantrak, both working as scrap collectors, brought their infant daughter with them to a neighbour’s property.
The child was left in a stroller in the garage while they worked. The homeowner’s pit bull, a two-year-old named Big, came up to the stroller, possibly believing the infant was a toy. The dog grabbed her, dragged her over to a drainage ditch about six metres away, leaving blood stains and marks on the ground. Police also found a stroller and three blood-smeared toys at the site.
Dusit ran to help after hearing his daughter scream. He managed to rescue her from the dog, but she had suffered critical wounds. She was taken immediately to Nong Chang Hospital, where doctors were unable to revive her.
The pit bull’s owner, whose name police have not made public, locked the dog away after the attack. Legal action against the owner is underway, though the exact charges have not been announced yet. The parents are devastated, with neighbours calling the tragedy preventable.
Current Laws on Pit Bulls in Thailand
Thailand’s rules about pit bulls and similar dogs are patchy. Although there has been a ban on importing certain breeds since 2005 (including American Pit Bull Terriers, Rottweilers, Dobermans, and Fila Brasileiros), these rules stop at the border.
Anyone caught bringing these breeds in could lose the animal and face a 5,000 baht fine, but owning these dogs remains legal. This gap has contributed to an ongoing problem, as many pit bulls are either bred within Thailand or smuggled in. Some end up as guard dogs or are used illegally in fights.
There have been complaints about the weak legal framework. Countries such as the UK have chosen to ban certain breeds through laws like the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. Thailand’s laws, on the other hand, cover only importation, not ownership, handling, or proper containment.
Experts argue this misses the point, as dogs bred for aggressive traits can pose risks to public safety. Dr Kaset Sutasha, a vet from Kasetsart University, told Manager Online that around 70 percent of a dog’s behaviour comes from upbringing and training, and the rest from instinct. Yet without rules around owner training or licensing, these animals remain unpredictable.
More Fatal Pit Bull Attacks in Thailand
Sadly, what happened in Udon Thani is not a one-off. There have been several similar attacks in recent years. In September 2024, a 67-year-old woman called Dang Thamtanta died after her sister’s pit bull attacked her in Pathum Thani.
The dog, which had already acted aggressively in the past, got out of its cage and bit her so badly she nearly lost her right leg. In July 2024, three pit bulls killed a 70-year-old cyclist in Khon Kaen. That same month, an 18-year-old in Lop Buri was mauled by his brother’s group of pit bulls at home.
Past cases add to the list. In December 2022, Pornchai Ritmaha, aged 47, was fatally injured by three pit bulls in Udon Thani . The owner, Sakchai Buasi, said the dogs escaped when a door was left open.
In October 2022, a man was killed in Nakhon Ratchasima by one or two of his own family’s seven pit bulls. June 2022 saw two pit bulls kill their bedridden owner in Lampang. Such events have spurred anger and calls for the government to act.
Public reaction has been strong and divided. Some want pit bulls banned outright because of their history of attacking people. Others believe the answer lies in stronger ownership standards and training. Many animal experts say pit bulls can be gentle if raised well.
However, their size and nature mean they must be watched closely. A breeder at TNT Kennel Thailand, who now works mainly with American Bullies, says understanding a dog’s nature and never leaving them unsupervised is key.
He warns that pit bulls bred to be guard dogs or for fighting are more likely to be defensive around people they do not know.
A 2024 editorial in the Bangkok Post urged lawmakers to strengthen animal control laws after another deadly attack. Proposals include a licensing system for owners, stricter rules about keeping dangerous dogs contained, and heavier fines for those whose dogs harm others.
