Saigon’s dog owners are treading carefully this weekend, as there is confusion surrounding a new regulation targeting off-leash pets.
Resolution 90, which went into effect on Friday, September 15, primarily covers veterinary practices, however a small section of the new regulation also covers penalties for dogs found in the street without a leash and owner as well as fines for those who fail to provide up-to-date vaccination records for their pets.
According to Tuoi Tre, pet owners in violation of the new regulation can be fined between VND600,000 and VND800,000, however it’s unclear exactly how the rules will be enforced. When DTI spoke with lawyer Nguyen Duc Chanh about the new resolution, Chanh expressed concern over local authorities’ ability to effectively and consistently enforce these new rules due to the manpower required to patrol the streets for stray dogs.
Chanh also encouraged raising public awareness among pet owners, as information regarding the implementation of this regulation remains unclear.
Pham Minh Tri, head of Department of Animal Health’s Station for Animal Health and Quarantine, told the news outlet that dogs found off-leash will be taken to 252 Ly Chinh Thang, District 3 for a period of 72 hours. If an owner does not come to claim the pet, it will be put down.
Since 2015, Tri told Tuoi Tre, his department has captured free-roaming dogs on Saigon’s streets and brought them to the District 3 facility, with roughly 70% of dog owners turning up to claim their pets.
[Photo via Tuoi Tre]
