Lalida, Deputy Government Spokesperson, explained that Prime Minister Anutin's warning was intended to communicate to the public not to wait until floodwaters rise to a level that makes evacuating both people and pets difficult. She appealed not to interpret the message as instructing people to abandon their pets.
5 Oct 2026 GMT+7 Ms. Lalida Pertwivatana, Deputy Government Spokesperson at the Prime Minister's Office, commented on the proposal from Mr. Prinya Thewanarumitkul, a law professor at Thammasat University, regarding the care of pets during evacuation in flood situations. The government welcomes useful suggestions but asks for a correct understanding of the Prime Minister's intention: he wants to urge citizens not to wait until water levels rise to the point that evacuating both people and pets becomes difficult or dangerous. It is not an instruction to leave pets behind at home.
For many families, pets are part of the household. The government understands this well. However, what we want to avoid is owners worrying about their pets to the point they decide not to evacuate. Eventually, when water levels rise, rescue becomes more difficult and risky for both people and animals, especially in households with children, the elderly, the sick, or vulnerable groups. Therefore, do not interpret the safety warning as an order to abandon pets.
Regarding the proposal to have separate areas for pets apart from sleeping and cooking spaces in shelters, the government is ready to consider this according to each area's readiness. The appropriate solution is not to force people to choose between "themselves" and "their pets," but to manage evacuations so that both can be safely removed from risk areas without causing hygiene or safety problems within shelters.
"The government is open to suggestions that improve evacuation processes but asks to distinguish between 'limitations of shelters' and 'prohibiting bringing pets from home,' which are different issues. The Prime Minister did not tell anyone to abandon pets. The emphasis is on not waiting until the water rises too high because at that point, not only people but also beloved pets face serious risks."
At the end, the Deputy Government Spokesperson also stressed that residents in risk areas who have pets should inform officials from the start about the number of animals and the type of assistance needed to coordinate proper care. For help, people can contact the emergency hotline 1784 anytime.