Uproar after Chinese city bans dog walking during daytime

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Wenshan, a city in southwestern China's Yunnan Province has sparked controversy after it announced to banish dog walking during the daytime, and prohibit dogs from entering public spaces like parks, museums, schools and accessing most public transportations, according to an article on the local government website which took effect on the released date, October 29.

Dog owners are banned from walking dogs during seven am to 10 p.m., and they must keep their pets on a leash no longer than one meter which needs to be held by an adult when outside, according to the ordinance.

Also, they are not allowed to bring their dog on public transportations, except inside a taxi, under the drivers' permission, it added.

The latest curb, seen as the "most restrictive measure" to date on dog walking in a so-called bid to improve "public safety," comes against the backdrop of the growing implementation of the social credit system for dog owners in Chinese cities and the overall regulation on how to raise dogs, primarily concerning leash laws and large-sized dogs in city centers like Beijing and Shanghai.

In Nanjing, police explain a notice that bans dog owners to walk dogs. /VCG Photo

This rule has stroke outrage among Chinese netizens on Weibo, China's Twitter. Although they appeared to be in favor of the non-dog owners, comments opposed by others who argue that it's negligent to the root cause of the problem. And is a temporary solution that makes little sense.

"The noise children make is disturbing too. Can they also only be allowed to come out after 10 pm?" says @Guipipi which gathered over 1,600 likes. "So one can walk dogs when it's time for them to be in bed?" Another user responded.

Regulations on how to raise dogs are primarily focused on leash laws and other aspects of dog walking in public spaces. /VCG Photo

However, in response, city officials told Shanghai-based news The Paper there is "nothing controversial" about the ban, adding the authorities must take action before someone is hurt.

The director of the Wenshan Urban Management and Comprehensive Administrative Law Enforcement Bureau, surnamed Tang, told The Beijing News that the notice had been effective after being issued.

The real aim is to mitigate clash from irresponsible dog owners and attacks by stray dogs, he added. Since the rule's announcement, no complaints about dogs causing nuisance and disturbance to residents have been received so far, according to him.