A household in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City that breeds 82 dogs as pets in a 2.6m-wide house has been fined VND64 million (US$2,724) for causing environmental pollution.

A representative of the People’s Committee of Ward 9 in District 4, where the family of Nguyen Thi My Thanh -- the owner of the dogs -- resides, confirmed the information to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Tuesday.

In particular, Thanh’s family was fined VND40 million ($1,698) for discharging wastewater which exceeds the criteria by over 10 times and VND24 million ($1,019) for releasing wastewater with a pH level above the permitted.

The household was also asked to take measures to deal with the environmental pollution and pay measurement and sample analysis fees.

According to the representative of the People’s Committee of Ward 9, most of the 82 dogs are puppies and sick canines that other people brought to Thanh’s house.

Local residents have repeatedly complained that Thanh dumped the dogs’ excrement directly into the drainage system in front of her house and left them unbridled, causing environmental pollution and danger for residents.

The Ward 9 authorities asked Thanh to install glass doors to prevent odor from affecting her neighborhood. 

District 4 officials also offered the family ways to minimize the impact of the dog breeding on the environment and neighbors. 

However, Thanh’s family failed to follow the instructions.

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