The number of stray dogs in the country is expected to reach 1 million this year due to a rise in abandoned pets, Wallop Tangkananurak, member of the National Legislative Assembly, said on Friday.
Mr Wallop, has chaired a committee to study the pet abandonment issue.
In the committee's view, Mr Wallop said local municipalities were considered the most suitable way to oversee homeless dogs. However, the Office of the Auditor-General has yet to approve a budget to address the matter.
Although a number of abandoned dogs are now under the care of private shelters, their operators had to shoulder huge expenses and received numerous complaints about smell and noise from nearby residents, he said.
Currently, there are about 8.5 million dogs in the country. Of them, about 730,000 are abandoned, according to Mr Wallop.
People who did not adopt homeless dogs and only fed them were also a factor to consider as they do not take responsibility when the dogs cause problems for neighbours.
Meanwhile, two dogs were seriously injured after they were shot in Phitsanulok's Muang district yesterday.
The dogs sustained several gunshot wounds to their heads and bodies. Both were sent to a local animal clinic after initially receiving first aid.
Riem Nainet, 59, owner of the dogs, said that shortly after her pets went into a rice paddy next to her house yesterday morning, they ran back to her in a distressed manner and were bleeding from several gunshot wounds.
Ms Rien said she had no idea who the gunman was but she will file a complaint with police to bring the perpetrator to justice.