Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang voiced concern Thursday over the number of rabies cases reported in the city, which now has over 100,000 stray dogs.
He said preventive measures against the deadly virus must be devised and the situation closely monitored.
City Hall has also instructed its public health service centres and 50 district offices to mobilise teams to provide rabies vaccines for pets and stray animals at communities across Bangkok from last Monday.
As of now, the vaccine has been administered to more than 8,000 animals throughout the city.
In addition, a campaign to raise public awareness of the disease has been launched. Pet owners have been urged to get their pets inoculated.
City Hall has also set up a stray dog shelter in Prawet district that can handle up to 2,000 dogs. It is now around half full.
Pol Gen Aswin said he was not overly concerned about animals with owners as most have already been vaccinated.
The Bangkok governor was speaking during a visit to Wat Amphawa in Soi Charan Sanitwong 22 to campaign against rabies in Bangkok Noi district.
He said Bangkok is among 22 provinces declared temporary rabies epidemic zones and rabies-prone areas by the Department of Livestock Development (DLD).
This year, six animals have been found to have contracted the disease in four districts of the capital: Don Muang, Bang Khen, Bang Sue and Chatuchak. There have been no reported human deaths from rabies in the capital.
But four people have died from it in Trang, Songkhla , Surin and Nakhon Ratchasima this year.
In contrast, no people were infected last year but 47 animals were.
Pol Gen Aswin said another shelter that can accommodate 8,000 stray dogs is located in Uthai Thani's Thap Than district. It is now caring for around 6,000 and others that are rounded up in the capital will be sent there, he added.
He assured the public none of the strays were at risk of animal cruelty from City Hall.
In Ayutthaya on Thursday, mobile teams of veterinarians and officials from the DLD provided rabies vaccinations and sterilisations for more than 500 cats and dogs for free in Bang Pa-in district.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Luck Wajananawat inspected the operation.
"One million sets of rabies vaccines have been put in place by the DLD, 100,000 of which have been administered to the animals," he said.
"The others will be saved for distribution to other provinces as requested by local administrative agencies nationwide."
In Sa Kaeo's Khao Chakhan district, officials also put up signboards bearing messages to warn tourists they could contract to rabies from a total of 70,000 wild pig-tailed macaques at Wat Tham Khao Chakhan and Khao Chakhan Forest Park.
Also Thursday, Nakhon Ratchasima governor Wichien Chantharanothai ordered all 32 districts in the province to provide rabies vaccines for all animals at risk of carrying the disease.