Nha Trang mulls dog squads after foreign tourist bitten

The move came after a foreign tourist was hospitalized after he was bitten by a dog while walking on a street.

Before 2020, the resort town, one of the top tourist attractions in Vietnam, had already set up a dog squad with members including veterinarians, police, volunteers and the urban management force.

However, after the dogs were caught, there was not enough space to keep them. Furthermore, members of the squad did not have the necessary skills and equipment to catch dogs, exposing them to many threats.

“The city is waiting for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to release specific guidance on catching dogs so that the project could be more effective,” an official said.

A 19-year-old British man was walking with his friends along October 23 Street in Vinh Hiep Commune of Nha Trang last Sunday when they were attacked by an Alabai dog.

The Alabai dog that attacked a British tourist in Nha Trang Town on February 19, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Chinh Toan

The man was bitten in his arms and legs and he fell on the street calling for help. His friend tried to fight back but was also attacked by the dog, which weighed around 50 kilograms and stood 65 centimeters tall.

Many dog attacks across the country have been reported recently.

Public opinion has been divided on the matter of muzzling dogs in public places. Many non-dog owners have requested that dogs be muzzled in public as a safety measure.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang have set up dog squads to catch unleashed dogs wandering around public spaces.