Local authorities in various regions of China have initiated a stringent campaign against canine ownership in the wake of a recent incident where a toddler was mauled by a rottweiler in Chengdu on October 16, 2023. As the child’s condition improved, state media reported on October 23, emphasizing the significance of “civilized dog ownership.” The dog’s owner is currently under criminal investigation.
Henan’s Shenqiu County has announced its intent to target prohibited breeds, unregistered dogs, and strays. In a parallel move, Sichuan’s Ebian Yi Autonomous County has opted for a comprehensive crackdown, designating any unattended dogs in public areas as strays subject to capture.
Disturbing social media reports have emerged from within China, depicting landlords and community committee members forcibly entering residences to seize dogs, some of which met tragic ends. In an unsettling incident, a university in Liaoning Province dismissed a security guard who strangled stray dogs on campus. Additionally, local news outlets reported that students at a vocational college in Sichuan killed stray dogs in a dormitory.
The 2021 China Pet Industry white paper reveals a staggering number of 40 million stray dogs and 53 million stray cats. In 2019, China ranked fifth globally in terms of rabies-related deaths, according to data from the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. At present, China lacks specific national or local legislation regarding stray dogs.
The indiscriminate culling of stray dogs has sparked public outrage, with protests in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, demanding an end to animal cruelty. Influential Chinese actors have also expressed their concerns on social media, only to have their accounts banned after their heartfelt pleas.
Internet users have united in a call for public engagement, urging citizens to visit the State Council website to request an end to the mistreatment and killing of stray animals. They are also calling for greater transparency in the handling of stray cats and dogs and advocating for state legislation to protect animals.
This controversial crackdown has raised significant ethical and legal questions, emphasizing the need for comprehensive and humane strategies to address issues surrounding stray animals in China.
