These are the top countries viewed as caring most about animal rights by global survey respondents, a metric used in the U.S. News Best Countries rankings, specifically within its Social Purpose subranking. The survey reflects public perceptions of how countries treat animals, alongside broader indicators related to social responsibility.
Within Southeast Asia, Thailand ranks highest on this measure and places second across Asia, behind India. While the ranking is perception-based, Thailand’s position is underpinned by a decade-long shift in national policy that has gradually transformed animal welfare from a cultural expectation into a legally enforceable responsibility.
A Legal Turning Point in 2014
Thailand’s modern animal welfare framework began on December 27, 2014, with the enactment of the Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animal Act. It marked the country’s first comprehensive law to criminalize abuse and neglect, providing clear legal protection for animals rather than relying on social norms alone.
The scope of the law is notably broad. It applies not only to pets, but also to working animals such as elephants and buffaloes, animals used in performances, livestock, stray animals, and animals without permanent owners.
By doing so, the law acknowledges animals as subjects of welfare protection regardless of their economic or social function.
Practices That Became Illegal
Beyond general principles, the law introduced specific prohibitions that reshaped everyday practices. Serving food made from live vertebrate animals was formally banned, closing a legal loophole that had allowed extreme food practices to persist.
Thailand also outlawed the trade and consumption of dog and cat meat nationwide, as well as the practice of feeding live prey to captive predators such as snakes or crocodiles.
These provisions signaled a shift toward standardized welfare norms, aligning Thailand more closely with global animal protection standards.
Redefining Responsibility for Animal Abandonment
One of the law’s most socially significant impacts concerns animal abandonment. For decades, temples across Thailand often became informal shelters for unwanted dogs and cats. While culturally tolerated, the practice frequently resulted in overcrowding and poor animal welfare.
Under the current legal framework, abandoning animals including at religious sites is classified as neglect.
Offenders can face prison sentences of up to two years or fines of up to 40,000 baht. The policy shift redirects responsibility back to owners, encouraging the use of registered welfare organizations rather than informal dumping.
Toward Digital Accountability
Thailand expanded its regulatory ambition in 2018 by proposing mandatory pet registration. Although the policy sparked debate over cost and enforcement, it reflects a broader goal: building a national database that links animals directly to accountable owners.
Such systems are increasingly relevant in Southeast Asia’s urban centers, where issues like stray populations, disease control, and animal abandonment intersect with public health and city management.
Thailand’s approach illustrates how animal welfare policy can become part of broader governance infrastructure.
What This Means for Southeast Asia
Thailand’s experience offers a reference point for other ASEAN countries, many of which still rely on fragmented regulations or non-binding guidelines.
By criminalizing abuse, neglect, and inhumane practices, Thailand demonstrates how animal welfare can be embedded into enforceable legal systems rather than treated as a cultural afterthought.
While enforcement challenges remain, the country’s trajectory highlights an emerging policy direction in Southeast Asia, one where animal welfare is increasingly recognized as part of public responsibility, legal accountability, and modern governance.
