Dog lovers question need for canine crackdown

Rising tensions between owners and other members of the public have resulted in many cities harshly enforcing related legislation. Zhang Yangfei reports.

When the clock ticks close to 7 pm, Jia Yilei, from Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, puts a pink waterproof coat on her pet dog, a black Shiba Inu named Hawaii, fixes a leash on her collar and walks her out the door.

This may appear a usual routine for dog lovers, but what makes it different is that Jia is only allowed to walk Hawaii between 7 pm and 7 am. She used to bring the dog with her when she went to buy groceries, but that has not been possible since November, when a campaign to strictly enforce existing regulations started.

However, Hawaii is lucky. At least she is properly licensed, so she has the right to go outside, unlike a golden retriever named Alu.

Alu is not officially allowed out of doors because golden retrievers don't appear on the city's list of approved breeds, meaning it cannot be licensed. As a result, Fan Chen, Alu's owner, has to walk the dog secretly after 8 pm on a remote path in his neighborhood to avoid crowds.

The restrictions are being enforced in Hangzhou and several other cities as part of a canine clampdown resulting from rising tensions between dog owners and other members of the public following a number of incidents.