Police call for higher fines for uncivilized dog-keeping

Writer: Zhang Qian  | Editor: Holly Wang  | From:  | Updated: 2018-11-20

THE number of disputes and injuries related to uncivilized dog-keeping has been rising in the city in recent years, according to the city’s public security authority. Local police are calling for harsher penalties, including heavier fines, to curb such incidents, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported yesterday.

Under current laws and regulations, fines against uncivilized dog-keeping behavior range between 200 and 500 yuan (US$29 to 72). An unnamed official at the public security bureau said the fines are too low to discourage uncivilized dog-keeping.

According to the public security control center, the number of incidents involving dogs biting, attacking and disturbing people was 2,868 in 2016, and the figure increased by approximately 20 percent in 2017. Over the first 10 months of this year, the number already reached 3,293.

Most of the incidents were related to irresponsible dog owners who neglect their dogs, said the official. “Most cases take place at night when the owners are walking their dogs in their residential complexes, but surveillance cameras hardly provide evidence because of the dim light,” said another official with the control center.

A police officer with Fuqiang Police Station in Futian District named Wang Kui said since it is difficult to collect evidence, the parties involved are not willing to reconcile. It takes police a lot of time and effort to deal with such incidents, said Wang.

In most of cases it is the behavior of the owners, such as not using leashes, that leads to such attacks and incidents.

Wang said the number of children injured by dogs increased this year. He said that kids are more attracted to puppies, but they may bite.