With good intentions of helping dog breeders, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha bought three Bang Kaew puppies during a mobile cabinet trip in Phitsanulok in late December last year. Two of the pups were intended to be New Year's gifts for senior cabinet members and the third pup would be his family's new pet.
The dog-gifting spurred an allegation of giving inappropriate gifts valued at more than 3,000 baht. Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam, who already has a corgi at home, ended the accusation by saying he would find a legal way to take in the puppies himself.
Approaching the Year of the Dog, which begins on Feb 16 according to the Chinese lunar calendar, people may be thinking of purchasing dogs for themselves or as gifts, believing that the pooches will bring them good luck.
This happened in the Year of the Rabbit, when there was a booming business for bunnies, considered auspicious creatures in 2011, but later in some cases turning into abandoned novelties after the year ended.
Animal-welfare organisations, such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, are against purchasing and wrapping puppies as presents.
Recipients may not have an affinity with the four-legged gift and feel overwhelmed by the responsibility.
Caring for a canine companion requires huge commitment and significant financial responsibility throughout a dog's lifespan, which can be up to 15 or more years, depending on the breed.
Those ready to take on the responsibility then have to find a compatible pooch that matches with their personality, lifestyle, home environment and living space, as well as other considerations before making the big decision.
In many cases, irresponsible owners can heartlessly dump their dogs when they are no longer cute little pups, due to boredom, behavioural problems, sickness and other factors.
Abused and abandoned pets then sadly end up as strays on the streets or in temples, and shelters, leading to overpopulation that remains an unsolved problem in Thailand and many other countries.
Adopting dogs from a shelter or bringing home strays is encouraged instead of just purchasing them, which supports the commercialisation of animals.
King Bhumibol Adulyadej advocated this by homing a street-born puppy, later known as Khun Thongdaeng, who demonstrated how street dogs can make great pets that are as intelligent and attractive as foreign breeds.
Last year, South Korea President Moon Jae-in fulfilled one of his election promises by adopting a black mongrel from an animal sanctuary rather than having a white purebred Jindo as the so-called First Dog.
His support for animal rights carries a strong message against prejudice and discrimination of black dogs, deemed impure and dirty by many Koreans.
The president also shows his compassion for a former shelter cat, Jjing-jjing, who also lives with Tory, and another dog, Maru, at the Blue House in Seoul. He's also agreed to phase out dog-meat farming and trading, and encourages Koreans to make dogs pets rather than food.
Rescued from Thailand's illegal dog-meat trade, Miracle was adopted by Amanda Leask, who first saw him in a horrific Facebook photograph, wedged between bars in a truck loaded with dogs snatched from the streets.
From the UK, she contacted the photographer to help her find the dog, which was rescued by the Soi Dog Foundation. After recovering from the ordeal, Miracle travelled to his new home in Scotland, where he bonded with Leask's autistic child and brought joy to the family.
Leask penned a book about Miracle, The Extraordinary Dog That Refused To Die. The Thai crossbreed also won the Crufts Friends For Life Award and the RSPCA Animal Hero Award in 2015.
Leask adopted other dogs from the Phuket-based Soi Dog Foundation, whose missions include creating a society without homeless animals and fighting the Asian dog-meat trade, not only in Thailand but in other Southeast Asian countries as well as in South Korea.
In 2017, a total of 691 dogs and cats under Soi Dog were adopted locally and internationally. At Soi Dog and other shelters across the country, thousands are still waiting for a forever home, where they will make loving and loyal pets, grateful for their new life.
But in all, think carefully if you are deciding to buy yourself or others a pet dog, for Chinese New Year or any other occasion. These loyal creatures should by no means end up stranded on Thailand's streets.
Kanokporn Chanasongkram is a feature writer of the Life section of the Bangkok Post.