'My dog has never bitten anyone': The excuse for dogs roaming free

Two dogs playing in a park. Illustration photo by Pexels

When the three dogs attacked me, I had to grab a broken tree branch nearby to fend them off and escaped unharmed.

After finishing my jog and heading back on the same route, I passed the café again. Since more people were around, I decided to enter and speak with the dog owner, who is also the café's owner, about the incident.

I simply told her she should keep the dogs leashed to prevent them from harming others, like how they nearly harmed me.

Instead of addressing the issue, the owner dismissively replied that her dogs had never bitten or injured anyone. Frustrated by her lack of care and apparent irresponsibility, I left and reported the incident to the local police.

About five days later, while jogging past the café again, I noticed the dogs were no longer roaming outside. I thought my firm action of contacting the authorities had resolved the issue.

However, just yesterday, I saw another unleashed dog chasing someone down the street.

This recurring issue and the negligence of dog owners baffle me.

There have been many cases of unleashed dogs attacking people, causing injuries, and even fatalities. Yet, many owners still let their dogs roam free without leashes or muzzles.

Vietnamese society has advanced in many ways, but unleashed dogs remain a persistent and serious problem.

Although the media and public campaigns have criticized this issue for years, many dog owners still refuse to take responsibility. Stray and unleashed dogs continue to pose a threat to public safety, and no effective solution has been enforced.

That's why I believe Vietnamese authorities must take stricter action against unleashed dogs in public spaces. We can never predict which or when an unleashed dog will suddenly attack, putting everyone at risk.