Vietnam to fine dog owners up to $76 for failing to muzzle pets in public

The penalty is stipulated in the government’s Decree No. 204, issued on Thursday, on administrative penalties in the veterinary sector.

The decree will take effect on August 1.

Under the new decree, owners who allow dogs to roam freely in public areas without a handler will also be subject to fines of VND1 million to VND2 million.

Also, the same fine will be imposed on dog owners who fail to vaccinate their animals against rabies.

Compared with current regulations, the new penalties represent an increase of between VND400,000 and VND1.2 million ($15-$45).

The decree also imposes fines ranging from VND1 million to VND1.5 million ($38-$57) on owners who fail to isolate, care for, or provide treatment to animals that are sick or showing signs of illness, except in cases where treatment is prohibited or where compulsory slaughter or destruction is required by law.

Animal collection facilities found violating veterinary hygiene and disease control regulations will face fines of VND2 million to VND3 million ($76-$114).

Violations include operating in locations that are not separated from residential areas, livestock farms, aquaculture facilities, or public infrastructure, as well as failing to maintain separate areas for different animal species.

The same penalties apply to facilities that use equipment, tools, or water that do not meet veterinary hygiene standards, or that fail to properly collect and treat wastewater and other waste in accordance with disease prevention and environmental protection requirements.

Specialized animal markets may be fined between VND4 million and VND5 million ($152-$190) for operating in locations that do not comply with planning regulations, failing to provide separate areas for different species, or using equipment and water that do not meet veterinary standards.

Regarding general animal disease prevention and treatment regulations, individuals may be fined from VND1 million to VND2 million for concealing cases of animal disease, failing to report them, or reporting them late to competent authorities after discovering that animals are sick, showing symptoms of disease, or have died from infectious diseases.

A fine of VND3 million to VND4 million ($114-$152) may be imposed on those who fail to notify veterinary authorities of laboratory test results confirming that animals carry pathogens listed among diseases requiring official outbreak declarations or diseases transmissible between animals and humans.

Individuals who buy, sell, alter, erase, or falsify certificates recognizing animal disease-free facilities may be fined between VND4 million and VND5 million ($152-$190).

Fines of VND5 million to VND6 million ($152-$228) apply to those who dispose of diseased animal carcasses or related products into the environment, as well as those who trade breeding animals infected with contagious diseases.

Violations of epidemic control regulations are subject to fines ranging from VND6 million to VND8 million ($228-$304).

These include failing to destroy diseased animals, animal products carrying pathogens, or animal carcasses that must be destroyed under legal requirements, as well as refusing to comply with mandatory disease-control measures ordered by competent authorities.

Fines ranging from VND15 million to VND20 million ($570-$760) shall apply to the transportation of diseased animals, contaminated animal products, or waste carrying dangerous infectious pathogens out of officially declared outbreak zones without authorization from veterinary authorities.

For organizations committing the same violations, the corresponding fines shall be doubled, according to the new decree.