“A man’s best friend” is how dogs are popularly known. Their loyalty, friendliness, and bubbly spirits make them amiable members of millions of Egyptian families. Although there are no exact figures on the dog population in Egypt, dog ownership has become more common in the last few years. Today, it is estimated that Egyptians own more than three million dogs. In May, Egypt’s House of Representatives approved a bill formally known as ‘Regulation of Ownership of Dangerous Animals and Dogs Law’. The law classifies dangerous animals as “that which causes harm or damage to humans or animals,” as written in Chapter 1, Article 1 of the legislation. The bill was ratified by Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al-Sisi after receiving preliminary approval in parliament. According to the General Authority of Veterinary Services (GAVS), the authoritative body on the new law, certain dog breeds were deemed dangerous. These were Pitbulls, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Huskies, Caucasian Shepherds, Bullmastiffs, Dobermans, Alaskan Malamutes, Great Danes, Akitas, American Bullies, Alpine Mastiffs, Dogo Argentinos, Cane Corsos, and Tosa Inus. On the other hand, only 10 breeds were exempt from the list: the Cocker Spaniel, Labradors, Poodles, Malinois, Pomeranians,…
Dangerous Animals or Furry Friends: Egyptians Speak Up Against Recent Draft Law
July 13, 2023
