In a remarkable triumph for animal welfare and public health, Phuket has emerged as one of the safest destinations in Southeast Asia for pet-loving tourists, thanks to a relentless campaign that has driven rabies risk down to almost zero.
Southeast Asia’s largest dog and cat charity, Soi Dog Foundation, announced this week that the island has recorded only one human rabies case in the past 18 years—a milestone attributed to its long-running Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return (CNVR) programme.
The declaration follows the tragic death of a British traveller from rabies contracted in Morocco, an incident that reignited global concern over rabies risks in popular holiday hotspots.
CNVR Director at Soi Dog, Dr Tuntikorn Rungpatana, said, “Rabies is a fatal but 100% preventable disease which, if eradicated in the dog population, will be eradicated in the human population. With dogs being the reservoir species in Asia, they must be the primary target.”
He explained that CNVR goes beyond vaccination alone.
“Through sterilisation, we stabilise the dog population and can reach more animals, preventing rabies transmission.”
Since launching in 2003, Soi Dog’s CNVR teams have sterilised and vaccinated more than 89,000 dogs in Phuket and over 1.4 million animals nationwide, including 600,000 in the Greater Bangkok area. The foundation now averages over 22,000 sterilised animals each month across Thailand.
In Bangkok, the CNVR mobile programme has received support from UK charity Dogs Trust, which has funded 50% of operations since 2016.
Soi Dog is also the only non-governmental group working on Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn’s Rabies Free Animals, Rabies Free People project, which aims to eliminate rabies in Thailand by 2030.
The island’s success is critical, as tourism continues to surge. According to C9 Hotelworks’ 2024 Hotel & Tourism Review, Phuket welcomed 8.65 million visitors this year—a 23% jump from 2023—fuelled by visa-free entry schemes and global exposure from TV hits like The White Lotus.
Soi Dog’s work has slashed Phuket’s estimated stray dog population from 70,000 in 2003 to under 7,000 today, reported Dogs Today.
“Thanks to the momentum of our CNVR programme, we’ve made a real impact across Thailand,” Dr Tuntikorn said. “Our work benefits both animals and people and serves as an example for other countries seeking humane solutions.”
Founded in 2003 by British couple John and Gill Dalley and Margot Homburg Park, Soi Dog has been instrumental in ending Thailand’s dog meat trade and pushing through the country’s first animal welfare law in 2014.
From its 12-acre Gill Dalley Sanctuary in Phuket, the foundation provides medical care, rehabilitation and adoption opportunities for over 1,800 animals, helping thousands of dogs and cats find loving homes both locally and abroad.
The story Phuket declared nearly rabies-free thanks to Soi Dog as seen on Thaiger News.
