In a surprising move, the Egyptian government has recently implemented a law that prohibits the ownership of several dog breeds in the country. This decision has caught dog owners off guard and sparked a wave of controversy. The legislation comes as part of a broader law, announced in late May, that aims to regulate the ownership of dangerous animals, including certain dog breeds categorized as hazardous, as well as wild animals, venomous insects, and reptiles.
Under the new law, only ten selected breeds are allowed without the need for a "safety" inspection. These breeds include the Cocker Spaniel, Labrador, Poodle, Malinois, Pomeranian, Jack Russell, Great Dane, White Shepherd, Maltese Dog, and Samoyed. However, stricter regulations will be imposed on breeds such as the Pit Bull, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Boxer, Husky, Caucasian Shepherd, and Bullmastiff. Owners of these breeds must undergo a rigorous government safety licensing process and face the risk of confiscation by public veterinarians if their dogs are deemed unsafe.
To register their pets, owners are required to pay a fee of up to 50,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,620) to Egypt's General Organization for Veterinary Services. The implementation of this law has raised concerns among pet owners, particularly due to the lack of consultation with animal advocacy organizations and the seemingly arbitrary list of banned breeds.
Mona Khalil, chair of the Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals, has criticized the new law, likening it to "prohibiting people from driving cars because of a car accident." Khalil has expressed her worries about the absence of input from animal welfare groups and the inconsistencies within the list of prohibited breeds. She highlights the fact that certain breeds are both banned and allowed under different names, suggesting a lack of understanding of dog breeds and their actual aggression levels by the drafters of the law.
The decision to enact this law comes in the wake of a tragic incident in February, involving a pit bull owned by a famous TV chef, which resulted in the death of a person in a residential complex. The incident sent shockwaves throughout the country, prompting public demands for stricter regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future. It was later revealed that the dog had previously attacked another neighbor, igniting a nationwide discussion on whether the owner could have taken more preventive measures.
Public opinion on the matter remains divided, with some internet users advocating for tougher regulations on dogs, while others argue for better regulations on how owners treat their pets. The number of dog attacks has been on the rise, with 11 people hospitalized for dog-inflicted injuries in 2021 alone. Egypt also struggles with a significant population of stray dogs, many of which have been involved in attacks on humans. In fact, in just four months of 2019, the Health and Population Ministry reported 6,241 cases of people being hospitalized due to dog attacks.
Despite these challenges, the popularity of dogs as pets in Egypt continues to grow. The enactment of this ban on certain breeds has sparked intense debate within the country, with dog owners, animal welfare organizations, and the general public sharing their opinions and concerns. It remains to be seen how this law will be enforced and whether adjustments will be made in response to the feedback from various stakeholders.