Dogs and the community: Vietnam should uphold responsible ownership through training, vaccines, and neutering

This threat to human life seems to bring on a sense of hysteria among non-dog owners across the country.

In a recent article run by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, the public was scathing about dogs roaming freely in grasslands along the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe canal in Ho Chi Minh City, with many concerned about the possibility of dog bites and others repulsed by the smell of pets using the grassed areas as a toilet.

While the smell and sight of canine waste are concerning to some, the real issue in this story is the threat of a dog bite and the risk to human life as a result.

In 2023, 82 people in Vietnam lost their lives to the rabies virus. In 2024, that number increased to 89.

The number of deaths is a concern and has shaped community sentiment toward the idea of allowing dogs to roam public spaces without muzzles and leashes.

As a dog owner, I can see both sides of this story. One thing to note is that dog owners often bring this criticism on themselves. Aggressive and untrained dogs should never be allowed into public areas without sufficient protection, yet many owners remain oblivious to the potential injury that an aggressive dog can cause in a public space.

Earlier this year, I attended a fair in my local community. I had my dog with me. I noticed an elderly man with a medium-sized dog on a leash. I stopped to say hello and went to pat the dog. The dog growled and lunged at me, biting my hand.

Clearly, this dog had no social training. It was out of control and should have been muzzled at the very least. This is exactly the kind of situation that provokes outrage among both dog owners and non-owners in the community.

On the other hand, my personal experience is different. Both my dogs have received extensive training from day one to never bite a person. Their training included hiding food inside my hand and placing it in the dog’s mouth. The dog learned never to bite a person’s hand, even if food was present.

Another training technique involves the dog reacting to its owner being hit. While police dogs are trained differently, community dogs should be trained to respond but never bite a person. This way, if they get excited by a running child, they know they can play but must not bite.

This training gives me the confidence to take my dogs into the community unmuzzled and off-leash because they will follow behavioral directions around people and other animals.

The reaction to this, however, is often one of hysteria. Women and children scream, run, and cower at the sight of a small dog off-leash. My animals are small, trained, and wear clothing to show they are not wild, but logic seems lost on those who believe every dog is a killer.

Likewise, the management of a dog’s toilet habits goes both ways. As is the case with me, if my dogs need to go to the toilet in a public space, I carry bags to collect the solid waste and dispose of it in a garbage bin.

It is both impractical and illogical to collect liquid waste from the animal. However, even this natural action often provokes offensive and aggressive comments from some members of the community.

In countries like France, dogs are permitted on trains, buses, and in restaurants. Animals are accepted as part of the fabric of the community and treated accordingly. But these animals are also trained and groomed in a way that suits the environment.

After reviewing the article and comments, and as a dog owner in the community myself, I tend to predominantly agree with public sentiment. As you walk along the canal in this area, you are overwhelmed by out-of-control dogs.

These dogs engage in aggressive behavior, relieve themselves everywhere, and their owners mostly do nothing to control or manage them in public. While this is not true of every owner, it is the irresponsible ones who create the environment we see in this space.

Responsible dog ownership

We can’t stop animals from using this space—that would be unfair to the natural life of the dog—but we can do much to improve the management of the animals and the environment for all users.

Firstly, all dogs must have mandatory vaccinations. If you own a dog and live in the city, it must be vaccinated and certified. This would give everyone confidence that they will not die from a dog bite.

Additionally, the animals need to be better managed. Well-trained dogs could wear clothing, like a doggie T-shirt, to show they are trained. Dogs that are less trained need to be muzzled and leashed at all times. It is the responsibility of the owner to do the right thing for the community.

De-sexing animals also helps greatly. We know that reproductive instincts can strongly motivate animals, and dogs living in dense communities should have this aspect of their health better managed. Not all animals need it, but if the owner wants a pet that interacts with the human community, it is a wise consideration to reduce risk and improve public safety.

Dogs are an important part of the community. For many people, they are almost as important as children. As owners, we have choices in how we manage our pets, but we also need to show respect for the community when we take them out in public. Show some respect and consideration for others, and I believe this issue will improve greatly along the canal and throughout the city.