The city has about 180,000 registered dogs, and complaints are rising about irresponsible owners who walk their pets anywhere they please and ignore regulations on leashing ...

Jiang Xiaowei / SHINE

Xintiandi’s Taiping Lake Park, an unfenced urban oasis, gets busy at dusk. Dozens of dogs run off the leash, playing with one another while their owners sit around chatting.

Among the owners is 58-year-old Lin, who lives nearby.

“He’s at home all day,” Lin said of her 5-year-old Labrador retriever. “He needs some fresh air and freedom. I also feel relaxed sitting here, after doing housework all day. It’s the happiest time of the day for both of us.”

But many passers-by beg to differ.

Renee Fan, who works for a nearby accounting firm, detours around the park when heading for dinner in Xintiandi.

“I am not against dogs,” she said. “But it really scares me when there are five to six big breeds, some as tall as me if they stand on their hind legs, and they aren’t on a leash. They can play a bit rough, barking and nipping at each other. They haven’t attacked me, but I don’t feel safe.”

According to Shanghai regulations, all dogs must be on leashes in public places, and larger breeds should wear muzzles if a public place is crowded. But the owners at Taiping Lake Park take no notice.

“He has never bitten anyone,” Lin said of her dog, admitting she would put him on a leash if someone asked her to.

Around the city, Taiping Lake Park is not the only public venue going to the dogs. In peak commuting hours, Wujiang Road, a pedestrian street lined with eateries, is crammed with people hurrying to catch the Metro or meet up with friends for dinner. Dogs further crowd the narrow street though most of them are on leashes.

“Leashes keep both dogs and people safe,” said Wang, owner of 4-year-old Shiba Inu. “It’s our right to walk dogs in public venues, but I know that we have to show good manners.”

Pedestrian Amy Zhou complained about having to thread her way through the rush hour throng.

“It’s really annoying when dogs are blocking my way,” she said. “Sometimes they roam free and suddenly run at me. Why can’t they just come out later?”

About 700 meters away is Plaza 66, a high-end mall. Its spacious square is another favorite spot for dog walkers. The property manager said it is a headache.

“Actually, we don’t allow people to walk dogs here,” said a security guard. “But when we try to persuade dog owners to keep their pets on a leash and walk them somewhere else, they sometimes become aggressive.”

He added, “Some people do listen, but after a while, they just come back and their dogs are not on a leash again.”

Currently, there are over 180,000 registered pet dogs in the city. They are banned from office buildings, shopping malls, entertainment venues, schools, hospitals, stadiums, museums, libraries and restaurants. Management of other public venues, such as parks and gardens, can decide their individual policies for themselves.

In residential compounds, neighborhood committees can ban dogs from certain areas.

Jiang Xiaowei / SHINE

The city’s 12345 hotline has received more than 13,000 complaints related to dogs, from canines not on leashes to mess left on the ground.

“These two problems are common,” said Chen Zhe, owner of the online celebrity A Guai, a 4-year-old pug. “I leash my dog and carry a pooper scooper with me every time I take him for a walk. When it is crowded, he walks close beside me to avoid getting in people’s way or scaring children.”

Zhang Ming, mother of two toddlers, said she is afraid that unleashed dogs will hurt her children.

“Actually, it poses a greater danger around my home than in commercial areas,” she said.

Last August, a man was accused of beating his neighbor to death after the neighbor asked him to control his dog in Qingpu District. The attacker was arrested last month.

Current city rules on dogs took effect in 2011.

In public places, dog owners are required to have their dogs on a leash that is less than 2 meters long. Muzzles are required for large dogs, and everyone is required to pick up the mess left behind by their pets.

Offenders face fines of up to 200 yuan (US$29).

In August, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress released a report that said too many agencies — police, health authorities and urban management officials — are involved in dog control. Coordination is haphazard. As a result, the regulations on dogs are not being enforced.

Police said it is hard to collect evidence in disputes related to dogs. In some cases, owners muzzle and leash their dogs when police appear but let them roam free when there are no authorities around.

Chen agreed that dog control needs to be streamlined. He also suggested classes be held to teach dog owners responsible pet care.

“Dogs are innocent,” said Chen. “It’s human beings who are the problem.”

Some communities have taken steps to control dogs. They include the Pingliang Road subdistrict in Yangpu District.

Over nine months, 58 families with dogs in two residential compounds in the subdistrict have signed a pact, promising to muzzle dogs in elevators, leash dogs in the neighborhood and avoid walking dogs close to the elderly and children.

“Previously, we simply relied on neighborhood committees to stop irresponsible dog behavior,” said Lu Liming, who is in charge of enforcing the pact. “It didn’t work. Some dog owners treat their pets like children and are reluctant to listen to others.”

Lu, deputy of the Shanghai Luyou Social Administration Law Service Center, said the key is to get dog owners involved in control measures.

“They sign the pact and keep an eye on each other,” he said. “In an environment where people don’t spit, you won’t spit either. Subtly, awareness is raised and better manners are fostered.”

An old neighborhood in Pengpu Xincun subdistrict in Jing’an District took another tack.

Since March, four worm composting bins have been installed in Lane 180, Pingshun Road. Earthworms in the bins process dog mess and generate fertilizer used in neighborhood gardens.

Ding Baomei, 59, owner of a 9-year-old Bichon Frise, is happy to see it.

“Previously, I rarely walked my dog in our neighborhood because dog poo was everywhere and it was extremely smelly,” she said. “Neighbors often quarreled about it, and sometimes police were called to handle the disputes.”

After the compost bins were installed, the dog poo all but disappeared, she said. Six more worm compost bins will be installed next year.

Dog controls in other cities

1. Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province

Dog owners walking their dogs unleashed or during the prohibited time of 7am-7pm in downtown areas face fines of up to 5,000 yuan (US$726). If an unleashed dog attacks another dog, the owner’s pet license will be revoked and the dog confiscated.

2. Jinan, Shandong Province

The city uses a credit-scoring system for dog owners, who are docked points if they break the rules. If they lose all 12 points, their pets are taken from them. They must pass a test on responsible pet ownership to get their pets back.

3. Xi’an, Shaanxi Province

The city has initiated a blacklisting system against irresponsible dog owners. A first violation brings a warning, a second a fine and if there is a third offense the owner goes on a blacklist with the pet license revoked for five years.

4. Chengdu, Sichuan Province

The city has banned 22 breeds of dogs, including the popular Japanese Akita.



