Kuwait has dog laws, but weak enforcement fuels public safety concern
Expert calls for enforcing dog ownership laws to curb stray dog problem; urges strengthening registration, tracking and veterinary oversight
Weak enforcement of existing legislation, disrupted dog registration and inadequate oversight are contributing to the spread and reproduction of stray dogs in Kuwait, veterinarian and public health expert Dr Abdulaziz Al-Ateeqi told Al-Qabas.
Al-Ateeqi said recurring dog-bite incidents, including the widely reported 2013 case involving a child, have repeatedly triggered statements and reactions without producing lasting solutions. He said Kuwait already has a legal framework, notably Law No. 9 of 1969, which regulates dog ownership, licensing, registration, annual vaccination, identification and control in public places, with penalties and enforcement powers for specialists.
He added that Law No. 112 of 2015, approving the GCC Animal Welfare Law, further defines the responsibilities of animal owners and caretakers, including preventing the release or abandonment of animals dependent on human care.
According to Al-Ateeqi, the key problem is now implementation. He said there is currently no effective system for licensing and tracking dogs as required by law, while limited staffing, registration systems and oversight of animal markets have weakened responsible ownership controls and contributed to the stray-dog cycle.
He called for a comprehensive assessment of Kuwait’s veterinary and regulatory capabilities, including staffing, training, facilities, equipment, databases, registration systems and mechanisms for transporting and housing animals. He also urged linking dog imports and trade to registration and tracking systems that identify animals and owners and establish responsibility for abandonment or violations.
Al-Ateeqi said Kuwait should adopt a “One Health” approach, coordinating veterinary, health and environmental authorities to address risks to people, animals and the environment. He noted that he had submitted proposals in 2021 to develop veterinary capabilities. He stressed that protecting the public from immediate risks must proceed alongside rebuilding a permanent enforcement system, urging authorities to move from repeated statements and temporary responses to sustained implementation of the law.
