Conference abstract

Increasing adoption of dogs for security protection: legal prospects and limitations in relation to dog diseases in Nigeria - a commentary

Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2019:10(4).14 Jan 2019.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2019.10.4.858
Archived on: 14 Jan 2019
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Dog disease, dog use, legal framework, security
Oral presentation

Increasing adoption of dogs for security protection: legal prospects and limitations in relation to dog diseases in Nigeria - a commentary

Olubukola Olugasa1,&

1Department of Private and Commercial Law, School of Law and Security Studies, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

&Corresponding author
Olubukola Olugasa, Department of Private and Commercial Law, School of Law and Security Studies, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: owing to the failure or inefficiency of the security agencies in Nigeria and particularly the inability of law enforcement agencies to secure their protection from home invasion, robberies and stealing communities and streets have resorted to private security outfits including conventional and non-conventional (local and unregistered) outfits. But certain limitations of the private security outfits appear to have further made the adoption of dogs as protection agents become ubiquitous.

Methods: a commentary on dogs adopted for the protection against home invasion, burglary or robbery is provided with emphasis on their usual ferocious attitudes commonly associated with foreign breeds or cross-breeds of dogs that are potentially dangerous.

Results: the reason attributed to the adoption of dogs for security purpose has been that dogs only know the keeper and are always faithful and consistent to act against any intruder or stranger. Another reason is that a typical Nigerian today fears a dog more than a fellow human. Merely hearing the barking of a ferocious dog seems sufficient to scare potential invaders away. Dogs are also considered more trustworthy than humans that may be easily compromised by gratifications. With that development arises the question of legal framework for the regulation of dogs as protection agents.

Conclusion: this paper explores the rate of adoption of dogs for protection of homes against criminal invaders, the general attitude of the keepers in handling the dogs, the legality of such adoption, its legal potentials and limitations in relation to dog diseases in Nigeria.