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Law changes mooted as dogs become part of life
By Pan Zheng |
July 17, 2009, Friday
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HANGZHOU Government is considering changes to legislation on keeping dogs as it acknowledges that the canine, big and small, has become a part of the urban lifestyle. Pan Zheng reports.Hangzhou may extend the rules on keeping pet dogs in the city if the recent discussion at the 16th Session of the Standing Committee of the 11th Hangzhou People's Congress is an indication.
A report last month on current dog-keeping regulations by the Commission of Legislative Affairs of the Hangzhou People's Congress suggested relaxing some limitations, including certification and fees. It has been submitted to the Standing Committee of the Hangzhou People's Congress for decision.
The current regulation was first implemented in 1996 and has since been revised three times. The government initially implemented the regulations mainly to prevent rabies and maintain the public order.
However, last month's report found there has been a rise in the number of pet dog owners in Hangzhou in recent years. Raising a pet dog has gradually become a lifestyle and the government is considering standardizing dog laws as well as improving pet services, rather than simply limiting them.
Too strict
In the report, members of the legislative affairs commission believed the current dog-keeping regulations were too strict and simple, and was not complete enough in terms of meeting the public needs.
Often one rule worked in all cases and little flexibility was allowed. For instance, the legislation forbids raising large dogs in the city area. But the report suggested that some docile and functional large dogs, like sniffer dogs and guide dogs, could be kept in the city to meet different needs.
In addition, the report also suggested flexible fees for the blind, disabled or single old people raising dogs, possibly half the rate or dropping it altogether.
On the other hand, the government may improve its pet-related services, such as disposal of dead pets. According to an official survey, about 10,000 pets die each year in Hangzhou, but nothing in the current regulations address disposal. In 2003, one Hangzhou cemetery wanted to open a "pet memorial park," but failed to get it passed.
After the legislative affairs commission handed in its report, the Standing Committee of the Hangzhou People's Congress held several discussions on it.
About easing the ban on raising large dogs in city areas, most Congress deputies were not convinced. Yu Huida, vice director of the Standing Committee of the Hangzhou People's Congress, believes dogs should be judged by their variety and size, not by whether they were docile or not.
"It's almost impossible to accurately define 'docile'," he says. "Some dogs seem to be docile, but you can guarantee nothing when it gets angry."
But for functional dogs, many deputies believe the government should treat each case individually and make decisions accordingly.
As for dog-keeping fees, most deputies supported the report. But in discussion, they also considered imposing heavier penalties for "dog accidents."
Owner fined
Under the current law and apart from victim compensation, if a dog hurts other people, the owner can be fined a maximum of 5,000 yuan (US$735.3). For some deputies, the fine was too "cheap."
"I think the regulation should concentrate more on the owner's responsibility, rather than the danger of dogs," suggests Chen Zhenlian, a deputy. "I think the government should raise the fine while reducing the dog-keeping fee."
On the disposal of dead dogs, Shao Gensong, vice director of the Hangzhou Law-Enforcing Bureau of City Administration, said the city planned to build a large collection center near Ban Shan (Half Hill), with vets and temperature-controlled facilities, making the medical treatment and disposal of dogs more humane.
Many professionals responded to the report's recommendations.
Professor Huang Liquan, of animal science at the Zhejiang University, believes raising large dogs should be "definitely" forbidden in the city area.
"Most people will be scared when seeing large dogs, no matter they're really docile or not," he says.
But Pan Jianfu, president of the Hangzhou Fire-fighting Sniffer Dog Association, thinks differently.
"It's very necessary to raise functional dogs in the city so that they can help people," Pan says. "If we always keep them out of the city, they will become uncomfortable and behave badly when they're really needed.
"I think the government should judge case by case, and decide which ones can be certified," Pan says.
A report last month on current dog-keeping regulations by the Commission of Legislative Affairs of the Hangzhou People's Congress suggested relaxing some limitations, including certification and fees. It has been submitted to the Standing Committee of the Hangzhou People's Congress for decision.
The current regulation was first implemented in 1996 and has since been revised three times. The government initially implemented the regulations mainly to prevent rabies and maintain the public order.
However, last month's report found there has been a rise in the number of pet dog owners in Hangzhou in recent years. Raising a pet dog has gradually become a lifestyle and the government is considering standardizing dog laws as well as improving pet services, rather than simply limiting them.
Too strict
In the report, members of the legislative affairs commission believed the current dog-keeping regulations were too strict and simple, and was not complete enough in terms of meeting the public needs.
Often one rule worked in all cases and little flexibility was allowed. For instance, the legislation forbids raising large dogs in the city area. But the report suggested that some docile and functional large dogs, like sniffer dogs and guide dogs, could be kept in the city to meet different needs.
In addition, the report also suggested flexible fees for the blind, disabled or single old people raising dogs, possibly half the rate or dropping it altogether.
On the other hand, the government may improve its pet-related services, such as disposal of dead pets. According to an official survey, about 10,000 pets die each year in Hangzhou, but nothing in the current regulations address disposal. In 2003, one Hangzhou cemetery wanted to open a "pet memorial park," but failed to get it passed.
After the legislative affairs commission handed in its report, the Standing Committee of the Hangzhou People's Congress held several discussions on it.
About easing the ban on raising large dogs in city areas, most Congress deputies were not convinced. Yu Huida, vice director of the Standing Committee of the Hangzhou People's Congress, believes dogs should be judged by their variety and size, not by whether they were docile or not.
"It's almost impossible to accurately define 'docile'," he says. "Some dogs seem to be docile, but you can guarantee nothing when it gets angry."
But for functional dogs, many deputies believe the government should treat each case individually and make decisions accordingly.
As for dog-keeping fees, most deputies supported the report. But in discussion, they also considered imposing heavier penalties for "dog accidents."
Owner fined
Under the current law and apart from victim compensation, if a dog hurts other people, the owner can be fined a maximum of 5,000 yuan (US$735.3). For some deputies, the fine was too "cheap."
"I think the regulation should concentrate more on the owner's responsibility, rather than the danger of dogs," suggests Chen Zhenlian, a deputy. "I think the government should raise the fine while reducing the dog-keeping fee."
On the disposal of dead dogs, Shao Gensong, vice director of the Hangzhou Law-Enforcing Bureau of City Administration, said the city planned to build a large collection center near Ban Shan (Half Hill), with vets and temperature-controlled facilities, making the medical treatment and disposal of dogs more humane.
Many professionals responded to the report's recommendations.
Professor Huang Liquan, of animal science at the Zhejiang University, believes raising large dogs should be "definitely" forbidden in the city area.
"Most people will be scared when seeing large dogs, no matter they're really docile or not," he says.
But Pan Jianfu, president of the Hangzhou Fire-fighting Sniffer Dog Association, thinks differently.
"It's very necessary to raise functional dogs in the city so that they can help people," Pan says. "If we always keep them out of the city, they will become uncomfortable and behave badly when they're really needed.
"I think the government should judge case by case, and decide which ones can be certified," Pan says.
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