The crackdown on dogs in public continues and escalates in Da Nang

Poor Nadi. If they actually took the time to get to know you they would feel differently.

The beach area here in Da Nang is one of ever-changing rules. When I first got here there were certain beaches that were designated as "dog beaches" but then they dropped that, then brought it back, then dropped it again. I normally don't have any idea what the rules are about the very little bit of nature we have in this city until someone with a whistle and an axe to grind decides to come and reprimand me for having my doggie friend with me.

We were down at the beach yesterday, minding our own business, staying on the leash and I had a plastic bag in my hand in the event that she decided to drop some poopy bombs on the sand. This is the same beach that I was once followed by an over-zealous security guard who was trying to make me leave because my dog was with me. In that instance I just kept walking and ignored him until he gave up. When we were on the beach it's not like she immediately started harassing the other beach-goers and running amok and biting children.

There's this seldom used side path of sorts that leads to the beach that very few people know about or use and there are also certain times of day where there are usually very few people on the beach at that time, especially when the waves are really rough like they are now. I walk her down there knowing that we are taking our chances of being turned back. The signs indicating the rules are non-existent here and I would say about 75% of the time we are able to make it to the beach. In the past I would be confontational with security but I have changed my ways. Now, if someone stops me, I just comply and we go and find somewhere else to go. It's a shame because Nadi likes it so much here.

In the past it was simply a situation where the dogs were not allowed on the sand but nobody had any issue with you walking them on the "boardwalk" sort of place that runs all the way up and down the beach, but yesterday I heard an announcement that was in 3 languages that was specifically about how dogs are no longer allowed on the pathways anymore, as well as the sand.

The timing was too perfect for it to have been a coincidence and I think there might actually be a person that hits this announcement to go over the speakers once they see someone walking with a dog. I am a frequent visitor to the beach area since I can see it from my apartment, and I have never heard this one before so I think there is a crackdown of sorts that we are in the process of seeing right now.

I really don't like this because there are so few places that you can take your dog to that are safe to go for a walk. The beach and the board walk was perfect because other than the odd jerk riding a motorbike in the pathway, there are no dangers like there are everywhere else in this city.

Here's something that really gets under my skin though: What is more dangerous? A dog on a leash walking down the pathway or someone that is driving a motorized vehicle on a space that is meant for pedestrians? They don't seem to take any issue with people driving their scooters on the pathway but a 6kg dog with poor eyesight that just wants to sniff everything? Well that must be prevented.

I guess it is fortunate for me that Nadi is getting old and her ability to go on walks at all is slowly diminishing. I do know that she lights up and turns briefly into a puppy again on the rare instance that I let her off the leash on the sand. I will just have to find a way to make this happen every now and then despite the rule. I can always claim ignorance or pretend that I do not speak English or Vietnamese and therefore didn't understand the announcement. There are no signs with graphics depicting no dogs allowed and I also don't think there is any actual LAW about this, it is just someone with a job that feels as though they need to be constantly changing the rules to justify their position.

Years ago, I was in Korea, which I think everyone would say is a tremendously more advanced society than Vietnam. They have so many dog-friendly areas and even provide little poop bags at various stations. Because of this people are always walking their dogs (always on a leash) and everyone picks up the poop. I think that is the major issue people have... the dog poop. and I guess I can understand that.

There is a major difference between a pack of Rottweilers that are running around and causing trouble and threatening people and an old dog on a leash that really more than anything else, just wants you to leave her alone (that's Nadi). But it is their country and their city and they get to make the rules.

Poor Nadi... I guess it is fortunate that you are getting old now because it seems as though the rule walls are closing in and it wont be long before there is nowhere left for me to take you :(