Dogs are the responsibility of their owners

Some dog owners do act irresponsibly and have indeed caused trouble. They either don't train their pets to behave properly or cannot control them in public. From barking loudly in the morning to biting passersby, dogs have become a source of irritation and fear for many people. Besides, many dog owners don't even bother to clean the pavements after their pets defecate in public.

Dogs are raised for various reasons, the most common being to guard a house and/or provide their owners emotional comfort. And since its dog owners' responsibility to train their pets to behave properly in public, they should shoulder the blame for the increasing dog phobia among the public. And dog owners who criticize the new regulation should first fulfill their due responsibilities.

Dog owners should abide by relevant regulation and register their dogs with the local authorities. True dog lovers will fulfill all their legal obligations to protect their pets from any potential harm.

Also, a dog owner should know that he/she is responsible for his/her pet for as long as it lives and that he/she should never abandon it after welcoming it into his/her family. Perhaps we could learn a lesson from neighboring Japan on pet ownership and management. In Japan, a dog owner who fails to feed his/her dog or abandons it could be fined up to 300,000 yen ($3,09) and people who intentionally hurt or kill their dogs face one year's imprisonment and a fine of up to 1 million yen. The strict regulation forces potential dog owners in Japan to be fully prepared for the upkeep of a dog for the rest of its life before actually getting one.

While enjoying the fun and pleasure dogs bring into the lives of their masters, dog owners should strictly follow dog management rules. They should be prepared to pay the penalty if their pets injure other people or cause damage to their property.

Moreover, dog owners should cultivate a sense of public awareness, which is part of urban dog management. While walking a dog in public, a person should hold his/her dog's leash tightly to prevent it from running wild and scaring people. Owners should also carry paper or plastic bags to clean their dogs' excreta.

It doesn't take much time or money for dog owners to fulfill their responsibilities, so they have no reason not to do so. And if all dog owners fulfill their social obligations and prevent their pets from running wild and biting and scaring other people, there will be no need for dog lovers and dog haters to go for each other's throats.

The author is a writer with China Daily.

E-mail: xiaolixin@chinadaily.com.cn.

(China Daily 07/03/2013 page9)