A small commune in the central Nghe An Province has forbidden residents from raising dogs for the last 50 years.

The reason? People in Dien Nguyen Commune in Dien Chau District dread rabies.

“In the 30 years I’ve been living here, I have not seen any household own a dog,” a local, who only wished to be named H., said.

“My kids grew up without any idea about dogs and are often petrified when people talk about keeping dogs.”

Any family found keeping the animal at home would be fined VND100,000 (US$5.20) or have their harvested rice confiscated, she said.

Dogs from neighboring communes that wander around Dien Nguyen risk being chased and attacked by the commune’s residents.

“People from other villages whose dogs were killed in Dien Nguyen don’t dare sue us,” Tang Ngoc Thanh, a commune official, said.

“Because of one reason: Dien Nguyen is a restricted zone for dogs,” he explained.
Dao Quang Phuc, chairman of the commune’s Fatherland Front, said the regulation stemmed from the locals’ fear of rabies.

“According to elders, in 1959 a resident died after being attacked by a rabid dog,” Phuc said.

A handful of people died every year after being bitten by rabid dogs because they were yet to have vaccines for humans or dogs at that time, he added.

But not all households comply with the unusual rule.

“Despite the ban, some families are still interested in owning dogs and they do it in secret,” Ng., another resident, said. “They hide the animals in the kitchen and train them not to bark.”

But as soon as barking sounds are heard, local officials arrive on the scene and warn the dog owner, he said.

“I have read about a hotel for dogs and cats in Hanoi,” a third resident, who did not want to be named, said.

“They treat the animals like that but our hometown is doing the opposite.

“When the law doesn’t ban us from keeping dogs, why should the commune apply a ban?”

The neighboring Dien Thai Commune too used to have a no-dog regulation but lifted it due to opposition from the people, he added.

Phuc said commune authorities have considered scrapping the ban but since only a fifth of the residents want to own dogs, it remains in place, he said.

Source: Tuoi Tre