🎄 Happy holidays! Expressways will be free from Dec. 30 to Jan. 5. Gold Line fare will go up to 17 baht, starting Jan. 1. Bangkok wants your old calendars to make braille learning materials for visually impaired individuals.

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That’s the number of cats and dogs already registered with Bangkok as of early December, according to officials, as the city races to enroll pets before new ownership regulations take effect Jan. 10.

Why it matters: Bangkok’s new pet control ordinance links the number of allowed pets to property size and mandates microchipping to enforce accountability and to create a centralized database to curb abandonment.

By the numbers: While 48,064 pets are now in the system, they represent just a fraction of the estimated pet population of nearly 180,000, according to city data. This means nearly 75% remains unregistered.

Between the lines: That gap is fueling concern among rescue groups, who argue the law is moving faster than the city’s ability to implement it.

Animal welfare advocates are urging the city to postpone enforcement and amend its pet control ordinance, warning that the strict limits and registration hurdles will discourage adoption and likely lead to a surge in abandoned animals.

Why it matters: Critics say the rules risk turning responsible owners, particularly renters and foster volunteers, into illegal keepers, weakening the city’s volunteer-driven rescue network.

Zooming in: The law caps the number of pets based on home size — for example, condos measuring 20-80 square meters are limited to one pet — and mandates registration. Owners who already exceed the limits can keep their animals but must register them by April.

Driving the news: Rescue groups, led by the Animal Welfare Volunteer Club, identified three key issues that threaten the law’s success:

The other side: The governor acknowledged the implementation challenges but said the law’s primary goal is public safety. He said the city has ordered 50,000 more microchips and is seeking to expand to at-home registration to encourage compliance.

What’s next: The groups plan to submit a formal petition to the governor Monday. Enforcement details remain limited, but fines are on the books once the law is in effect.

A new dog park in Lumpini Park is set to open in early 2026, featuring a two-rai space near the Wireless Road parking lot.

The details: The park features a waste disposal area, paw-washing stations and eco-friendly waste management systems. I will also include a Japanese garden, symbolizing a partnership with the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, and a shaded pavilion.

Know the rules: Officials said the park usage will be governed by the new pet ordinance, meaning dogs must be leashed at all times in all public areas (except inside the fenced area) and properly registered.

🗺️ Bangkok has a few other dog-friendly parks; check them out here.

The State Railway of Thailand has finalized its commercial development plan for the land surrounding Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, starting with a new headquarters for the Ministry of Transport next year.

Why it matters: This marks the first real step in turning the underutilized Bang Sue area into the “smart business complex” that officials have long promised.

State of play: The SRTA has identified 10 key sites for development, including a 21-rai plot for the new MOT, the Central Ladprao site where a new lease or redevelopment is a top priority, a 10-rai plot at the Chatuchak Market, a smaller 1.3-rai plot near Soi Petchburi 31 and a 6-rai plot near Or Tor Kor Market.

The lead project: Development kicks off next year with the “MOT Smart Building.” The 4.5-billion-baht price tag for the 156,000 square-meter building that will house only 1,200 state workers has been criticized as extravagant.

Between the lines: The SRT eyes generating at least 100 billion baht in revenue from these assets over 30 years.

After decades of anticipation, Dib Bangkok — a new museum dedicated to international contemporary art — opens its doors Sunday.

Why it matters: The gallery aims to cement the city as a serious contender on the global art stage. The permanent collection features more than 1,000 works by more than 200 international artists.

Big picture: The museum is a passion project of Purat Osathanugrah, CEO of Oventure Group and president of Bangkok University, who transformed his late father’s private collection into a public institution.

The quote: “In Thailand, we have no shortage of creative talent,” Chang told ThaiPBS World, “but we lack the institutional stability to push Thai artists onto the global stage. Dib Bangkok aims to be that bridge.”

Zooming in: Designed by WHY Architecture, the gallery’s 75,000-square-foot building embraces a “dib” (Thai for raw) aesthetic. It occupies a converted 1980s steel warehouse in Khlong Toei, accessible via the Thong Lor and Phra Khanong BTS stations.

The catch: Non-Thai adult admission is 700 baht, while Thai nationals pay 550 baht. Student tickets are 150-250 baht.

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