Who kept the dogs out? Egypt launches crackdown on 'dangerous' dog breeds

Egypt’s recent decision to crack down on ownership of some dog breeds has been branded as too severe by some citizens.

The 'dangerous animals' law, ratified at the end of last month, applies to 16 dog breeds, including pitbulls, rottweilers, great danes, huskies, and dobermans, Egyptian news outlet Ahram Online reported Tuesday.

Owners must register their pets with the country’s general veterinary authority at a cost of up to 50,000 Egyptian pounds (US$1,618), The National reported.

The authority will then conduct an inspection to decide whether a dog belonging to one of the 16 breeds is safe enough to keep. Dogs considered too dangerous are to be confiscated by the state, the Emirati news outlet said.

Approval of the law follows the death of an Egyptian man mauled by a pitbull at a residential complex a few months ago.

The move is being seen by some, including those working in animal welfare, as too drastic.

"It’s like passing a law prohibiting people from driving cars because of a car accident," Ahram Online quoted the Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals (ESMA) chair Mona Khalil as saying.

Owners of dogs deemed too dangerous to keep are to be given one month to surrender their dogs to the authorities, once "executive regulations" are put in place, according to Ahram Online.

Veterinary authority head Ehab Saber told the Egyptian news site: "Implementation could take up to a year and a half, during which time dog owners can rectify their situations and obtain the necessary licences.”

But some Egyptians in positions of power have already reacted with zeal to the ban, with managers of residential complexes already ordering owners of prohibited breeds to get rid of their dogs, the news outlet said.

On Twitter, some users said Egypt's leadership ought to contend instead with far more pressing issues, like the country's economic meltdown.