(CN) Man's best friend now a problem

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" Man's best friend " now a problem

(CRIENGLISH)

 

BEIJING, Oct. 11 -- Considered " man's best friend, " dogs are kept as pets by

many people. But without effective control, canines can also become

problems. That's why several scholars in Beijing are calling on the

government to take measures to deal with problems being caused by dogs in

the city.

 

A severely wounded girl was sent to the emergency room at Beijing's Xuanwu

Hospital on Saturday afternoon. Doctor Sun Chengyi, one of the doctors

providing her initial treatment, remembers clearly how bad her situation

was.

 

" The major wounds are on her neck. And there are altogether 7 or 8

three-centimeter deep cuts on her body. She was in a state of shock and had

almost no blood pressure. "

 

The six-year-old girl was attacked and bitten by a big dog being raised by a

guard at Wanquansi Park. As of Tuesday, the girl's condition remained

unstable, as she continues to receive special care at the hospital's

intensive care unit (ICU).

 

Just in the first half of this year, 70,000 people in Beijing have reported

being bitten or scratched by dogs and have had to get rabies vaccines, among

them children accounting for a large proportion. This makes dog bites the

largest source of disputes between dog owners and others.

 

" I just hope people that raise dogs can chain or tie their dogs up, to

prevent them from wandering around and attacking people. "

 

In addition, dog excrement, left on the streets by dog owners, is also

getting on city residents' nerves.

 

" Dog excrement is seen everywhere in our community. When owners walk in

front, their dogs follow and leave their excrement everywhere. "

 

" And dogs often urinate on the tires of my car. "

 

Concerning such uncivilized behavior in pet raising, 9 famous scholars in

the capital have jointly written a letter to the municipal government. They

hope more emphasis can be put on public education and more severe

punishments imposed on illegal dog keepers.

 

Writer Wen Shan is among them.

 

" To build up a city well is not an easy job. Why let dog excrement tarnish

the city's environment? I think the city has never been dirtier than it is

now. The task of improving the moral standards of residents is an urgent

one. "

 

To their owners, dogs can be the loveliest companions in the whole world.

And, perhaps if dog owners would exhibit more responsible behavior, instead

of being annoyed, other people might come to feel the same.

 

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-10/11/content_5191041.htm