Shanghai could punish poor dog ownership

Shanghai is considering grading residents on how they raise pets, and a poor score could affect their social credit system in a bid to crack down on unleashed dogs.

Residents judged as bad dog owners could lose points on their personal social credit system, according to a statement received by the Global Times on Thursday from the Shanghai Public Security Bureau.

Shanghai police hope that using the system will curb frequent dog attacks in the city.

A low social credit score could affect a person’s credit ceiling. In extreme cases, one could be listed as “laolai” or “a dishonest person” and face flight and train bans.

Details of the measure have yet to be finalized, the Shanghai Public Security Bureau said when reached by the Global Times on Thursday.

Tibetan Mastiff, English Bulldog and Japanese Tosa have been labeled ferocious dogs, and are not allowed in the city.

Shanghai issued 135,800 dog registration certificates in 2019.

On June 19, an unleashed Alaskan Husky attacked a boy in Shanghai, leaving a 10 centimeterlong wound on his face, media reported.

Previously, a Shanghai police official said dog tags will be embedded with electronic chips to better track their behavior.

Dog owners may be put on a blacklist or whitelist depending on how their pet behaves, local newspaper, the Shanghai Morning Post reported in January.

If dog owners frequently violate dog care regulations, they may be required to take a course or banned from keeping a dog, the official said.

Other cities, including Foshan in South China’s Guangdong Province, are also considering including a person’s dog care record on the social credit system.