Hanoi authorities have issued a new disease prevention programme that requires local residents to register their pet dogs and cats with officials.

Residents in Hanoi required to register their pet dogs and cats with local authorities

This is part of a national campaign to control and eradicate animal-borne diseases between 2018 and 2021. 

Under the programme, all people’s committees at different levels have to build their own plan on anti-rabies. Veterinarians must be provided with training courses to supervise and deal with the disease.

People who own dogs and cats must register the animals with the local government. Meanwhile, when being taken outside, dogs must be accompanied by a person, and either wear a muzzle or be kept on a leash for the safety of others.

Dog breeders are required to conform to environmental and veterinary regulations. Dogs have to be given with anti-rabies vaccination as regulated.

Dog owners also have to pay for any costs in case their stray dogs are being caught, fed or incinerated based on animal management agency laws. They are subject to medical expenses and compensation for people harmed by their dogs.

People’s committees at different levels are responsible for keeping a record of all the dogs in their localities with specific information related to owners, the number of dogs and vaccination dates.

The city has also encouraged the wearing of collars for dogs and cats which have been vaccinated against rabies in inner-city districts.

Dtinews