(CN) Hangzhou has new dog regulations

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Hangzhou has new dog regulations

By Shi Xi

China Daily

2007-05-14

 

Hangzhou is restricting areas where dogs can go, and to control the dog

population, and for the first time, illegal dogs will be euthanized, according

to a local Hangzhou paper.

 

New regulations issued by the Hangzhou Municipal Administrative Law Enforcement

Bureau stipulate canines should be kept away from " dogs forbidden area "

including some parks, squares and main roads in the East Chinese city.

 

And to control the dog population, unregistered fidos will be put to sleep in

its " dog euthanasia " program.

 

Dogs that don't have a proper identification tag will be given a lethal

injection and die peacefully. Then they will be photographed, recorded and then

buried.

 

So far, only 8,000 dogs are registered in the city and the bureau estimates

there are another 10,000 more that aren't licensed.

 

The city implemented these measures after an increase in dog problems and a high

incidence of rabies. The Municipal Administrative Law Enforcement Bureau has

dealt with more than 2,000 cases in the first three months of 2007 regarding

canines, like dog bites or illegal dogs. The number makes up 43 percent of the

total number of complaints, an average of seven each day.

 

According to statistics from Ministry of Health, in January, February and April

this year, rabies topped the list of fatal infectious diseases in China.

 

In 2006, the Chinese year of the dog, people dying from rabies ranked second

among those who died from the most deadly diseases in the country. The

percentage of deaths from rabies was higher than tuberculosis, the number one

killer disease in China.

 

A Hangzhou resident said there's dog excrement everywhere in their community and

dog owners always forget to clean up after their dogs. He also complained dogs

bark at night, making it difficult for him to sleep.

 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-05/14/content_872113.htm

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[ Poster's Note: Hangzhou, in Zhejiang, is a city 180 kilometres southwest of

Shanghai. Map at http://china.scmp.com/map/zhejiang.html ]