NHA TRANG — The People’s Committee of Nha Trang City will set up teams to catch stray dogs after a dog attacked a foreign tourist on Monday.

The city authorities have directed localities to strengthen communication, and ask dog owners to keep their dogs muzzled and not leave them unattended.

Dogs must also be fully vaccinated.

These measures will be implemented while awaiting detailed guidelines on dog catching teams from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Such teams were previously used in the city in 2020. The teams, including veterinary workers, police officers, volunteers and city management forces, were sent out to find any stray dogs or those not wearing muzzles in public.

However, the city lacked facilities and personnel to keep and take care of captured dogs, so the team was disbanded. 

The site where a dog attacked a foreign tourist on Monday. Photo plo.vn

The move followed a dog attack reported in the city on Monday. A white Alabai dog weighing 20kg attacked a foreign tourist, biting his arms and causing serious injuries.

This British tourist was then hospitalised with severe wounds on his right arm, including a tear to his bicep, and smaller injuries to the left arm.

The man’s condition is now stable but he remains under observation as the dog bites have a very high risk of infection.

The authorities worked with the dog owner after the attack, with the owner agreeing to take responsibility for the case.

Dog attack in Lào Cai City

In a separate case, a freshman university student was also hospitalised after being attacked by two dogs while jogging in Lào Cai City of the same province in northern Việt Nam on Saturday.

The student, attending Lào Cai College, was attacked by two dogs belonging to a rice restaurant in the late afternoon while jogging in Bắc Cường Commune. He was found with severe injuries and taken to hospital by a passerby.

The student treated at Lào Cai General Hospital after being attacked by a dog. Photo danviet.vn

His condition is now stable, however it will take more time before his wounds can be sutured, according to the Lào Cai General Hospital.

The college worked with the dog owner and the victim’s family on Monday, in which the dog owner committed to paying all treatment fees as well as covering other health-related expenses for six months.

Bắc Cường Commune’s authorities fined the dog owner VNĐ1.5 million (US$63.5) for releasing her pets into the streets unmuzzled and unattended.

The college supported the student with VNĐ10 million. — VNS