Dog owner mocks me for 'getting worked up over an animal' as I complain about messes

I am at my wits' end dealing with my neighbors' pet dogs, cats, chickens, and ducks. Just the other day, after parking my motorbike, a dog rushed over and urinated on the bike's wheel before I could even open my gate. Frustrated, I swatted it with my slipper, and the dog yelped and ran home. My neighbor, the dog's owner, merely watched with indifference.

And that's not the only disturbance. Another neighbor owns a German Shepherd, which, though leashed and confined, whines and howls day and night from being cooped up. The noise is relentless, even at midnight.

Unmuzzled dogs roam public spaces in Hanoi, April 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh

It's not just dogs, either. The area is full of cats that also roam freely, fouling the alley with no restraint.

When I voiced my frustrations to their owners, I was met with a casual dismissal: "This is their instinct. Why are you, a human, getting worked up over an animal?" After that, I gave up trying to reason with them.

I firmly believe stricter regulations are needed for keeping pets in residential neighborhoods. Local authorities need to address these issues to prevent the escalation of serious disputes caused by irresponsible pet ownership. Rules should mandate that only homes with sufficient space — like yards or gardens — are suitable for dogs or cats. In densely packed areas, there simply isn't room for animals, leading owners to let them roam, bark, fight, and foul everywhere, disturbing the neighborhood around the clock.

There’s also the danger of dog bites. I’ve been bitten twice by neighbors’ dogs, once even before I could complete a previous vaccination course. While some pet owners responsibly cover vaccination costs for victims, others respond with infuriating remarks like, "The dogs must dislike you for a reason."

Without stricter pet ownership rules, these issues will continue to create tension in residential areas.