LAMPANG – Two teenage boys, both aged 14 and students from a well-known private school in Lampang Province, have been detained by police after they poured petrol over a disabled stray dog and set it alight in an abandoned toilet at Wat Phra That Lampang Luang.
They shared the incident on social media, sparking a huge outcry. Locals, appalled by what had happened, came together to report the act to the police, providing evidence that led to the swift arrest of both teens.
Early yesterday, the Manager Online posted images of the burnt toilet along with a plea for justice for the disabled stray dog that was set on fire at the temple in Lampang. The post described a disturbing video from a local group.
The disturbing video shows one of the boys, a student at a private International school in Ko Kha district, pouring petrol over a stray dog with disabled hind legs, who was lying inside the abandoned toilet.
The boy then set the dog on fire and shut the door, leaving the animal no way to escape. The person who posted the video chose not to share it publicly, saying it was too distressing.
The incident took place within the grounds of the now-unused temple. Although abandoned, the site is still considered a sacred space. This behaviour is seen as animal cruelty, arson and trespassing under several laws.
The person who made the post and collected evidence has already reported everything to the local authorities, urging the police to fully investigate and press all charges against the young suspects.
After the post went up, there was an immediate wave of response online. Many condemned the action as brutal and demanded that the culprits face serious consequences.
Comments included, “How could anyone do this to a disabled dog? It’s so cruel, they must be punished,” and, “If kids are this cruel already, what will they be like as adults? Their families need to watch their behaviour closely.”
Others criticized the educational background, blaming poor upbringing, not the school. Some comments also claimed the teens dumped the dog’s body in a nearby river, though later information denied this.
By 4:30 pm, the person who reported the incident posted another update. She shared that police from Ko Kha station had taken both boys into custody after reviewing the evidence. The offenders are under 15, so the Juvenile and Family Court now handles their cases under relevant laws for minors.
The original reporter thanked the Lampang police for handling the case quickly and urged everyone not to publish any further personal information about the teens, as minors’ privacy is protected under the law.
The main concern remains making sure justice is served and that acts of cruelty like this are not brushed aside. Cases like this remind people that animals deserve compassion. The reporter hopes this will lead to greater awareness and respect for animal welfare.
Reporters visiting the scene found that the burnt toilet is part of tourist facilities built by the Department of Tourism and the temple, located by the car park. The building itself is abandoned but still in good shape, though the interior is now badly damaged.
The large toilet was divided into male and female sections. The door and floors in the women’s section, where the fire took place, had clear burn marks.
At Ko Kha police station, officers were still questioning both teenagers. Their families refused to comment, saying the matter had been settled and declining all interviews. It is reported that mediation had taken place.
When asked, the original Facebook poster confirmed the boys claimed the event took place two or three weeks earlier, but couldn’t remember the exact date. According to their story, the dog had brushed against one of them, causing him to lose his temper.
After the fire, the dog managed to drag itself away. The teens denied later throwing the dog into a canal.
