Egypt’s New ‘Dangerous Animals’ Law Sparks Controversy

Egyptian dog owners are feeling hounded by a new law. Recently passed, the ‘Regulation of Ownership of Dangerous Animals and Dogs Law’, significantly reduces the list of dog breeds allowed to be kept as pets in the country. Following this enactment, all but ten types of dogs are deemed “dangerous animals”, a move that is causing a growl of dissent amongst the pet-loving community.

The law sprung into action after a tragic incident involving a pit bull attack that ended in a fatality. In response, the law permits only a select few breeds: cocker spaniels, Labradors, poodles, Malinois, Pomeranians, Jack Russells, white shepherds, Maltese, and Samoyeds. (The identity of the 10th breed is currently unclear due to translation uncertainties.)

This newly rolled-out legislation presents a paradox: a German shepherd is labeled as dangerous, yet a white shepherd (a variation of the same breed with a white coat) is considered safe. The line between accepted and banned breeds seems arbitrary and confusing, giving rise to concern and frustration among dog owners.

“I raised my dogs alongside my own children, so how can the law consider them to be a threat?” voiced one pet owner in an interview with Al-Ahram, an Egyptian news outlet. The statement highlights the general sentiment of numerous dog owners who maintain that their pets are not inherently dangerous but depend on how they are raised and trained.

Moreover, the law necessitates pet owners to pay a registration fee of up to 50,000 Egyptian pounds (around $1,618) per animal. If a dog attacks and the owner has failed to register, a minimum sentence of six months in prison is on the cards. If such an attack results in a fatality, a minimum of a ten-year sentence is to be served.

The law doesn’t just stop at dogs, though. Exotic pets like cheetahs, tigers, lions, gorillas, chimpanzees, monkeys, crocodiles, turtles, venomous snakes, wolves, foxes, bears, pandas, and hippos are also banned under the ‘dangerous animals’ category.

“It’s like passing a law prohibiting people from driving cars because of a car accident,” commented Mona Khalil, chair of the Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals (ESMA), offering a perspective on the sweeping measure the law takes. As the ripples from this enactment continue to spread, only time will tell how it will impact Egypt’s pet culture and, more importantly, the lives of the many beloved pets at its center.

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