Potential dangers from free-range animals

Recently, the situation of people letting their pets such as dogs, cats... run free in public places and on the streets has become quite common. This not only poses many potential risks to traffic safety but also affects the urban beauty.

Free-roaming pets on National Highway 61C pose a potential risk of causing accidents to road users.

The situation of dogs roaming freely without muzzles and without anyone watching them is quite common in many places in the province. Therefore, it is not difficult to see images of dogs roaming freely on some inner-city roads of Vi Thanh city or along the Xa No canal embankment at any time of the day.

Mr. Le Thanh Nghiem, in area 3, ward 1, Vi Thanh city, said: "In the afternoon, I often take my children to play on the embankment and often see many dogs let loose, walking on the street, not knowing who the owner is and not seeing anyone managing them."

In reality, letting livestock and animals roam free not only obstructs and endangers traffic safety, but also causes unsanitary conditions, pollutes the environment, and affects urban aesthetics. To punish this behavior, the law has provisions to punish violations of owners letting livestock and animals roam unchecked and encroaching on the roadway.

Specifically, Article 35 of the 2008 Road Traffic Law stipulates: People leading animals on the road must keep the animals close to the edge of the road and ensure hygiene on the road; in case it is necessary to let the animals cross the road, they must observe and may only cross the road when there are sufficient safety conditions; animals may not be led onto the road section reserved for motor vehicles.

Regarding sanctions, lawyer Nguyen Hoang Manh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Bar Association, said that according to Article 7, Decree 144/2021 of the Government stipulating sanctions for administrative violations in the field of security, order and social safety, for the act of letting pets roam free in urban areas or public places, letting pets encroach on roads, sidewalks, common living areas in residential areas, urban areas or unintentionally causing injury or harm to the health of others, will be subject to a warning or a fine of 300,000-500,000 VND.

In case the owner lets the pet cause injury or property damage to another organization or individual, he/she may be fined 1-2 million VND. In addition to handling administrative violations, in case the pet attacks, spreads disease or causes accidents to passersby, the owner must be responsible for compensating the victim for damages.

That is the regulation, but in reality, the situation of people violating the law by grazing and letting their livestock and pets roam freely is currently common. People whose livestock and pets obstruct or cause traffic accidents still have to pay the costs themselves, because it is difficult to determine who owns the livestock and claim compensation.

Mr. Trang Tua Thao, in Bay Ngan town, Chau Thanh A district, said: “Normally, when traffic participants have an accident due to running over a dog or cat, the owner of the pet does not dare to claim the pet as their own. I suggest that the authorities regularly propagate to remind or take strong measures such as catching free-range pets so that each family can raise awareness of what animal to raise and protect it, ensuring safety for everyone around them.”

According to Mr. Nguyen Lam Thanh, Chief of Office of the Provincial Traffic Safety Committee, it is extremely dangerous for people to let their pets and livestock roam freely on the roads, especially on national highways. Therefore, in the coming time, the unit will coordinate with localities to strengthen propaganda and remind households about livestock management. In particular, not letting pets and livestock roam freely affects urban aesthetics, as well as poses many potential dangers to traffic participants.

It can be seen that letting pets roam freely on the road or in public areas not only endangers vehicles but also affects the lives and health of pedestrians on the road if they are unfortunately attacked. To avoid this situation, people need to manage their pets well, limit letting them roam freely on the road, and vaccinate them fully; and road users should also reduce speed when there are pets on the road to avoid unfortunate accidents.

According to Clause 2, Article 7, Decree 90/2017 regulating administrative sanctions in the veterinary field (amended and supplemented in Clause 3, Article 2, Decree 04/2020 of the Government), pet owners can be fined 1-2 million VND if they do not muzzle or leash their dogs when taking them to public places; do not vaccinate animals against rabies that must be vaccinated. The authority to impose sanctions belongs to the People's Committee and the chief of the commune-level police.

Article and photos: BB

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