The administration in District 4, Ho Chi Minh City has proposed relevant municipal departments and agencies to give instructions to cope with a household that has bred 79 dogs as pets in a 2.6-meter-wide and 10-meter-long house, causing environmental and noise pollution.

N.T.M.T., residing at 190 Hoang Dieu Street, Ward 9, District 4, the owner of the 79 dogs, has discharged wastewater into the environment and left dogs unbridled, causing environmental pollution and danger for residents in the neighborhood.

The owner of the dogs previously had 82.

The People’s Committee of District 4 has suggested the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ho Chi Minh City Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Agency, and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development study and recommend solutions.

If there are no specific regulations, the district urged the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the municipal People’s Committee to propose the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and other ministries add rules to demand that households and individuals raising animals in residential areas to ensure safety and environmental protection.

The People’s Committee of District 4 has received many complaints from households in T.'s neighborhood and directed the People’s Committee of Ward 9 and relevant units to review regulations to respond to the complaints.

In July last year, local authorities visited the household and asked T. to ensure environmental hygiene and not to leave her dogs unbridled.

In April this year, the People’s Committee of District 4 inspected T.’s house again and fined her VND64 million (US$2,710) for discharging wastewater exceeding the criteria.

However, T. still maintained the same number of dogs as of June this year. Of the 79 dogs, nine have yet to be vaccinated.

The district has since required Ward 9 and other agencies to regularly inspect and keep a close watch on T.’s compliance with regulations and encourage her to reduce the number of dogs raised at her house by relocating them to appropriate places.

An inspector of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development quoted the Veterinary Law to tell Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that households breeding dogs must not leave their pets unbridled on streets, and must chain and muzzle them. 

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee also requested households raising dogs to make declarations.

Households breeding dogs as pets must not cause environmental pollution and noise, pursuant to the Law on Animal Husbandry.

In particular, the permitted noise level is no more than 70 decibels from 5:00 am to 10:00 pm. After 10:00 pm, dog raising households must not cause noise.

With 79 dogs, the noise level will definitely exceed 70 decibels and the released wastewater and emissions will surely surpass the allowed levels.

The inspector said the city can use these regulations as a basis to deal with the household in District 4.

Raising 79 dogs in a 2.6m-wide and 10-meter-long house is terrible. However, Vietnam does not ban the act, according to the inspector.

The Department of Livestock Production under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is developing regulations to tighten the raising of dogs as pets in residential areas, the inspector added.

Like us on Facebook or  follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!