New measures to keep careless dog owners on a short leash in east China

Feeling like walking the dog today? It might not be as simple as slipping into sneakers and hitting the street if you’re living in the city of Jinan. Dog owners in the capital of east China’s Shandong Province better check how many points are left on their dog ownership license before deciding to go out with their furry friends.

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The city has introduced the first of its kind 12-point penalty system, similar to that adapted for driving, to urge residents better look after their pups in public and make sure they are not causing disturbance to others.

Under the regulations, dog owners who walk the dog without a leash, fail to show their registration card or unsuccessfully present evidence of their annual verification will see points subtracted.

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Each offense leads to a certain number of points being deducted. Three complaints against a pet owner over noise could cause the loss of all 12 points.

If a dog owner is left without any points, not only would his dog ownership certificate be revoked but also, and perhaps more seriously, their dogs would be temporarily taken away by the city’s Public Security Bureau until the owner passes relevant exams to prove that they qualify to be dog owners.

With 27.4 million canines registered, China ranks third worldwide in terms of dog ownership, after the US (55.3 million) and Brazil (35.7 million), according to the National Bureau of Statistics. The overall number of dog pets could be higher, as many are believed to be unregistered.

As soon as the news surfaced online, some netizens expressed worries about the possibility of unjust nuisance allegations against some and the devastating consequences that could ensue.

Police tried to allay the concerns by saying they will check with at least three nearby households after receiving complaints.

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As dog ownership surges in China, so do the accompanying problems resulting from owners’ carelessness and lack of training to their dogs. Traffic accidents including off-leash dogs or cases of canine attacks are not unheard of in China.

A recent incident in southwest China’s Jiangxi Province including a little poodle being savagely attacked to death by a big Rottweiler dog for ten seconds has drawn heat on Chinese social media with netizens barking at pet owners who are negligent towards others.

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