Thai animal welfare groups are brainstorming ideas to press for new legislation to require registration of pets, in hopes of reducing the high number of stray dogs and cats around the country in the long term.

To curb the huge stray population that shows no sign of declining, Piyawan Tangsakulsathaporn, the founder of "A CALL for Animal Rights Thailand," said the groups have been studying the pros and cons of a draft law that will require pet owners to get their animals registered.

"Over 90 percent of stray dogs and cats in Thailand are resulted from the irresponsibility of the pet owners, who abandon their pets on the streets or in a temple when the owners no longer adore them or are no longer willing to shoulder the heavy cost of caring for the animals," Piyawan told Kyodo News. 

The Thai capital alone has over 140,000 stray dogs and almost 100,000 stray cats as of 2016, according to statistics from the Bureau of Disease Control and Veterinary Services. Across the country, there are thought to be more than 700,000 stray dogs and 470,000 stray cats.

Neutering and sheltering the strays have so far failed to put their populations under control because the current efforts do not fix the root cause of the problem, Piyawan said.

The draft law envisions an autonomous animal welfare police force, as exists in some Western countries, being eventually set up in Thailand to directly deal with animal cruelty cases, after many animal welfare groups received complaints that police officers lacked knowledge about the animal law and often mishandled reported cases.

The "animal cops" could be funded by a pet tax, Piyawan said. But she added that such a tax is unlikely to be introduced any time soon as it could be a double-edged sword, causing low-income earners to dump their pets.

Breeders and pet shops would also have to get certified by animal control authorities as they are also the problem creators.

"Pet registration is a sustainable solution to systemize the abundant cats and dogs in Thailand," the activist said.

When asked if unwanted pets should be euthanized as in other countries since animal control authorities struggle to shelter, feed and find homes for them, Piyawan reluctantly agreed, while pointing out that the idea is unlikely to be accepted by the Thai general public.

In Thailand, a predominantly Buddhist country, many people regard euthanasia as contravening the cardinal virtue of "ahimsa," or avoidance of harming of living creatures.

Meanwhile, she also wanted to correct the public's misunderstanding that the Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animal Act, which was enacted in 2014 after 15 years of campaigning, leans "too much" toward protecting animals and neglects victims of animal attacks.

"People who do not study the law question its intention and think the law is unfair for human beings," Piyawan explained. "The truth is, Section 21 (of the act) clearly states that killing an animal in self-defense is exempt from legal culpability."

For example, if a person killed a stray dog when being attacked, one is not treated as a lawbreaker. But if he or she vengefully killed it hours or days after the attack, that would violate the law.

In Thailand, animal cruelty carries a maximum fine of up to 40,000 baht ($1,205) and or a prison sentence of up to two years, but according to Piyawan, most offenders get a suspended sentence.

"People should study the law thoroughly before criticizing it," she argued.

Besides pets, the legislation covers the wellbeing of animals raised as livestock or as beasts of burden, as well as those used for performances and even some designated wild animals.

In addition to educating the public on the law, Chollada Mekratri, the founder of Siang Jahk Rao (The Voice) Foundation, recently launched a campaign urging people not to own a pet unless they are fully ready for the responsibilities that come with it.

Chollada also encourages people to adopt homeless dogs and cats, including ones that are disabled, instead of buying new animals.

"It takes great responsibility -- both mentally and financially -- to own a pet," said Chollada, who led the nationwide call a few years ago for Thailand's first animal rights act.

She also urged people to stop engaging practices that harm or kill animals, such as buying a pet as a gift for one's partner only to dispose of it when the couple breaks up, or releasing birds and other wild animals to bring good karma, since many of them captured specifically for that purpose die or suffer cruel treatment.