Kaia joins th Netanyahu family
Netanyahu calls to change law after having to quarantine dog
Netanyahu family dog Kaia had to be put into quarantine after biting MK, husband of deputy minister; PM: 'I found flaws in legislation that are not in line with logic and compassion.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called to change the existing law after having to put his dog in quarantine because she bit two guests at a Hannukah event at the Prime Minister's Residence.
"We were compelled, with sorrow, to put Kaia into quarantine, as required by law," Netanyahu said on Facebook on Friday.
"Following this case I was exposed to the issue of putting dogs in quarantine and found flaws that are not in line with logic and compassion," the prime minister wrote.
Netanyahu family lights the fifth candle of Hannukah on Thursday, before sending Kaia into quarantine.
The post did not say what fate might await the 10-year-old mixed breed, which was taken in by one of Netanyahu's sons from a rescue home earlier this year. Her adoption by the Netanyahu family saved Kaia from being put down, as she is an old dog suffering from hearing issues and has a hard time walking.
Kaia bit the husband of Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely, as well as MK Sharren Haskel, both from Netanyahu's Likud party, at a Hannuka candle-lighting on Wednesday. The latter victim dismissed the incident as "trivial".
Netanyahu and Kaia in happier days.
Netanyahu himself was reportedly bitten as well in July, and needed to get a rabies shot. The dog was not, however, put in quarantine after reportedly biting the prime minister.
MK Itzik Shmuly (Zionist Union), the head of the Lobby for the Protection of Animals, plans to propose a bill against the quarantining of dogs.
"The prime minister is right about the issue of quarantining, and we must change the law. There's no reason not to allow additional options like house quarantines. There's no reason for biting dogs to be thrown straightaway into quarantine, where they are seriously traumatized," Shmuly said.
Reuters contributed to this report.
