Factors Affecting the Decision to Adopt Stray Dogs Instead of Purchasing in Bangkok, Thailand

The decision to adopt stray dogs rather than purchase them has become a growing concern in Bangkok, where 100,000 stray dogs live on the streets despite a thriving pet ownership culture. As pet humanization trends expand, purchasing pets from breeders has become increasingly normalized among residents. This study aims to investigate the factors affecting the decision to adopt stray dogs instead of purchasing among Bangkok residents, to understand what prevents positive attitudes from becoming actual adoption behavior. Using a structured questionnaire, we collected responses from 279 participants using a 5-point Likert scale, assessing their perceptions toward stray animal adoption and the key factors influencing their decision to adopt or purchase. Our findings revealed that Bangkok residents showed generally positive attitudes toward stray animal adoption; however, their responses also indicated concerns and preferences that may affect stated willingness to adopt. One potential explanation is that while Thailand’s Buddhist cultural values create a broadly compassionate outlook toward animals across all demographic groups, social barriers such as preference for specific breeds and negative perceptions of stray animal health prevent these sentiments from translating into adoption behavior. These findings provide direction for policymakers and animal welfare organizations seeking to design more targeted and effective adoption promotion strategies in Bangkok.