Who Let the Dogs Out? No Seriously, Who? Beijing Bans Dogs From Public Parks, Again

Dogs. Man’s best friend. Our furry companions. Universally beloved, or so we thought. On Jul 23, the Beijing Gardening and Green Bureau released a list of forbidden activities deemed as uncivilized conduct and strictly prohibited in public parks. Now it appears that dog walking is as uncivilized as cursing and chasing park wildlife, and as such, dogs are now no longer permitted in any of the city's green spaces.

The decision comes amidst ongoing complaints of dog owners and their poor control over their furry friends. Many parkgoers have noted a generally lackluster approach from owners regarding other visitors’ safety, letting their dogs roam freely and refusing to pick up after them. Some of Beijing's residential communities have even taken measures into their own hands, completely banning dog walking within complexes to reduce the risk of residents being bitten by rampant dogs.

Queena Yang, head of the Yurenmeigui Dog Shelter in Shunyi, told the Beijinger that she believes that valid concerns underly their decision to ban dogs from parks, though she concedes that the restrictions could be slightly more flexible. With pet ownership on the rise, owners should take the initiative and uphold basic pet protocol, such as picking up dog poo and discouraging dogs from barking loudly, contributing to Beijing's noise pollution. Yang points to Japan as an example of good dog ownership, where owners even carry bottles of water to wash away dog urine. "The dog problem is really a human problem," she surmises.

Despite the latest reports of dogs being banned from parks, the change in rules may not actually be as radical as they seem. Long before the government released its newest rules for public spaces, Beijing’s most popular public parks already prohibited park access for dogs and their human companions. Dan Penny, owner of Penny's Food Studio, told the Beijinger that he was surprised that these restrictions weren't already in fact in place. “It was my understanding that dogs have never been allowed in Beijing city parks,” Penny said, citing signs outside of said parks and guards who refuse dog walkers entry.

New or not, the updated regulations join the ever-growing list of behaviors deemed "uncivilized" by the powers that be. It was only in May that the authorities trained their sights on commuters, banning eating, manspreading, and hawking goods on the Beijing subway.

Here's to hoping that one day we can teach people correct etiquette and behavior rather than having to outright ban everything. Saying that, anything is better than beating or poisoning them to death.

READ: Helping Out Our Furry Friends: Where to Adopt Rescue Animals in Beijing

Images: Baidu, kpkpw.com