Bring dog owners to heel

A 78-year-old waste collector was bitten to death by six dogs in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, recently for which the dog owners were detained by police. Dog-related incidents have become a social issue and a challenge for urban management, says an article on eastday.com. Excerpts:

The popularity of pet dogs among urban residents can be attributed to their better material life. As long as pets do not become a nuisance for society, there should be nothing to complain about.

But dog-related incidents in China are the second highest in the world. Their numbers are 14 times higher than the injuries caused by traffic accidents. And the frequency with which they are occurring nowadays shows that keeping dogs is no longer just an individual choice. Added to all these are the problems created by dog wastes and the threat of diseases.

But dog owners, not dogs, should be blamed for the problems. So the authorities should follow strict norms before issuing pet licenses.

Since the lack of a proper service mechanism adds to the problems, the authorities must make all dog owners register their dogs, and provide necessary services such as vaccination, sterilization and safety education.

The authorities should also establish a mechanism for prevention and control of dog-related incidents, and institute a system to regulate dog management and punish dog owners who do not fulfill their social responsibilities.

(China Daily 01/10/2013 page9)