China tech city dog-walking limits criticised; some question ‘how dogs can get some sunshine’

The eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou has sparked controversy by implementing strict dog-walking rules that ban residents from walking their small ornamental dogs in designated downtown areas during daylight hours. Under these “key restraining” regulations, pet owners can walk their pets only between 7pm and 7am, while large dogs are not permitted outside at all times. The city's Restraining Dog Raising Rules also mandate keeping dogs on leashes and immediately cleaning up after them.

Critics have questioned the civilised nature of such restrictions, with one member of the public asking sarcastically, “Do you think this is civilised? You still believe this world is only inhabited by human beings?” Violators face fines ranging from 200 to 1,000 yuan (US$30-US$150) and could have their dog registration licences revoked. In mainland China, owning a city-dwelling dog requires registering it with local authorities and paying an annual fee; failure to do so may result in the dogs being treated as strays and confiscated by the government.