Rumor alleges city to crack down on large dogs

An online message alleging Beijing will confiscate large dogs in downtown areas, and smaller ones which are not on a leash while they are walked, triggered panic among dog owners and animal activists yesterday.

The rumor comes after a Tibetan Mastiff attacked nine people on the streets in Chaoyang district Sunday. The dog's owner, surnamed Feng, was finally traced, and he paid for the victims' medical bills, according to the Legal Mirror.

"I heard the information about confiscating dogs from a friend who works in the public security bureau, and I believe it's reliable," said a dog owner who posted the message on Sina Weibo yesterday, "I want to remind dog owners to be alert."

Public security authorities yesterday denied there would be any special campaign, saying that any illegal behavior related to dogs and dog ownership has always resulted in punishment according to the law.

A police officer from the dog supervisory department at Dongcheng Public Security Bureau said that "It's forbidden to own dogs taller than 35 centimeters in eight urban districts [of Beijing], including Chaoyang and Dongcheng districts."

If dogs are unlicensed or outside without a leash, the owners will be fined, the officer said. "Police will confiscate dogs only if their owners are warned many times for refusing to walk their dogs on a leash."

"With regard to animal welfare, large dogs should not be raised in urban areas as they need more space," said Qin Xiaona, director of the Capital Animal Welfare Association.

"However, the city's definition on what is a large dog is not reasonable or scientific," Qin noted.

"The breed, rather than size, should be a factor when considering whether a dog is a suitable pet," she said.

"Mastiffs tend to be violent, and even if they are smaller than 35 centimeters, they should be banned from the city, but some dogs which are bigger can be very docile," she said.