Hanoi’s Doggy Dark Side
I’ve written in the past about the booming Hanoi dog scene and how many affluent Hanoians are really getting into non-Asian breeds. The ones I see most frequently are Siberian Huskies, Miniature Pinschers, Cocker Spaniels, Labradors, German Shepherds, Poodles, Bull dogs, Doberman Pinschers, and Dalmatians. Another two breeds which are very popular here are Pit Bulls and American Staffordshire Bull Terriers. Sadly, I think many are used either for fighting or encouraging a macho image. Below are some pictures from an American Pit Bull Terrier club meeting in Lenin Park.
Many of the dogs meeting up were lovely happy looking little puppies – but some had clearly been in fights
Unfortunately, not all of them were sweet natured puppies as the above photo shows. Sadly, I have seen Pit Bulls several times on the back of motorcycles, bloodied and torn up, presumably coming back from a fight. Today I saw two massively muscular ones walking with a diminutive old lady, luckily both were muzzled.
I don’t know anything about the context of these fights, but it is sad both for the dogs themselves and the risk that they then pose when taken to public parks.
A few months ago I took Tala to our closest park, the small Lenin Park, and upon entering we spotted a Pit Bull about 50 metres away, off its leash. Almost as soon as we had seen the dog, it came straight for Tala at full pelt. I stood in front of her, as having a confident stance and uttering a firm ‘no’ usually keeps most would-be assailants at bay, but in this case it was completely futile as the dog rushed past and then came around to attack from behind. The whole incident was probably over in seconds, although it felt much longer with Tala’s high pitched squealing and my inability to remove the mauling dog from Tala frustratingly trapped in place by her leash. By the time the owner arrived and had removed him we were both pretty shaken – Tala with three puncture wounds and bruising all over her torso (which became visible in the following days) and me with scrapped knees from scrambling around trying to separate them. We walked away quickly without even thinking to berate the owner. I think we were very lucky that her injuries weren’t worse.
Luckily Tala did not seem to dwell on what happened and we returned to the park a few days later with Tala trotting trepidly. The next weekend we bumped into a lovely Pit Bull puppy (not exactly sure which type as it seems very hard to tell the difference between the American Staffies and American Pit Bulls) who Tala happily played with for half an hour tumbling around.
Aloof at first to the puppy’s advances….
He was very sweet and had beautiful colouring
Soon they were playing like old friends
Smiling Tala – happily tired out!
I spoke in broken English to his owner who inspected Tala’s bite marks and shook his head in disbelief re-iterating that his dog would definitely not be used for fighting. Although I hate to make assumptions on the basis of breed (as the puppy above proves there are many great Pit Bulls with caring owners), we will now be more cautious around Pit Bulls. The attack on Tala was completely unprovoked – it is simply not normal for a male dog to run straight at a female and attack, unless of course that dog had been trained to fight, apparently the case in this instance. I hope dog owners so inclined learn at least not to let them off the leash in parks!
It’s terrible to know that regardless of the nationality of a person, you can always find cruel, uncaring, evil people. Dog fighting is terrible also here in Maryland, specialy in Baltimore, and, in my opinion, it continues because the punishment given to those using these poor dogs to do this is a joke, to say the least. If the law was much more serious and severe with these so called “people” fighting dogs, I think that these horrible fights would decline greatly. How sad to see how these dogs are used just like they are property rather than living beings.
Dark indeed… it’s hard to look at a dog who’s obviously been in a fight and know that there are people who actually get off on that kind of surrogate violence. Ugh. UGH!!
I had never been exposed to so many pit bulls until I came to California. The fighters and the rescuers really are at two extreme poles… and never shall they be reconciled.
Also sorry to hear about the incident with Tala. Three punctures actually sounds relatively severe to me, and would definitely be something that would call for follow-up here in the States. Not sure how dog-to-dog incidents are usually handled in your part of the world, but I do feel like around here, owners are pretty responsible. Even if it doesn’t always escalate to needing vet work or the involvement of the authorities, information will be exchanged just to be on the “safe” side.
Yes, well I did still take her to the vet and she was cleaned up, given antibiotics (to prevent infection) and pain killers as she would yelp when pretty much touched lightly anywhere the day after! I think I was just a bit in shock and also I don’t think the guy spoke any English which is why there was no discussion then and there. Thankfully I haven’t seen him in the park since so hence no follow up….
interesting post jura. thanks for this
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Sorry to hear about this – I’m so wary of the lads with these dogs – unfair I know but some of them are strutting down the road with these dogs pulling them along. In the UK Sally’s dog walker had a Staffie/Pit Bull and they played brilliantly together so she’s not bothered by them. I’ve heard a few horror stories about the diminutive Vietnamese lady who walks two of them in the West Lake area where we live – not docile at all given half a chance. I’d have done exactly the same as you in the park, tried to stay between them but not let her off lead. She could easily have outrun an attacker so not sure my logic holds up but I’d still be loathe to let go of her! Thanks again, great post.
Thanks for your comments. I just heard about another fighting pit bull in the Tay Ho area that exercises by swimming in the lake… Yes, I think fundamentally safer on the leash as she would just keep on running if she were let off. In Khartoum when she slipped her collar she went a couple of kilometers and then went up to the 5th floor roof of a building where we eventually found her!