Rumors only widen rift over dogs

AFTER A DOG OWNER IN HANGZHOU attacked a woman who was trying to move his dog away from her frightened children, leaving her with a concussion and fractured finger, the city's urban management department announced that all dogs must be registered and kept on a leash in public, among other measures. Thepaper.cn comments:

Although the local authorities have made it clear in their news release that they want dog owners to act responsibly, not stop people having dogs, the rumor still spread that the authorities were banning people from owning dogs.

For example, some people posted bloody photos of local staff capturing and beating stray dogs on social media, without mentioning when or where it happened.

Some people like to spread rumors online hoping to provoke a reaction, and some dog lovers were quick to spread the rumor. The dog lovers might have meant no harm, but their deeds are just as irresponsible and harmful as those who spread the rumors in the first place.

However, the local authorities should also hold an open attitude toward those dog owners who made reasonable objections to some of the measures. Many dog owners for example have questioned the regulation restricting large dogs to captivity and only allowing small dogs to be walked in public between 7:00 pm and 7:00 am.

Dog management is a recognized urban governance problem, and a sensitive issue. The authorities have a duty to protect residents, and that means ensuring dog owners keep their pets under control. However, they should also heed the reasonable requests of dog owners and seek to strike a balance.