Dog attacks set off another national debate   

烈犬傷人事件頻發 輿論呼吁追責嚴管

Beijing (CNS) – A series of horrific dog attacks on humans in China has set off another national debate about canines, especially large and dangerous breeds.

The public has called for strengthening of law enforcement, saying that irresponsible dog owners should bear legal repercussions.

In the past month in Dalian, Liaoning Province, Tibetan Mastiffs were responsible for a serious injury to a 90-year-old woman and the death of a 3-year-old girl. In Beijing, mastiffs have harmed passersby, while similar tragedies have also happened in Luzhou of Sichuan and Yuncheng of Shanxi.

On Sunday, China Central Television broadcast a program focusing on the recent incidents of dogs attacking people.

In the case of the killing of the 3-year-old in Dalian, Yu Haihua, a judge from the Liaoning Higher People's Court, said that the dog's owner, who is suspected of negligence, could face three to seven years in prison.

The Beijing Times commented on Sunday that it's a violation of public interest for a person to let his or her dog run loose.

Most cities in China have dog management regulations or ordinances. Dangerous and large breeds are generally banned or limited in densely populated areas, but enforcement is often lacking.

The Beijing Evening News commented that dog owners and law enforcement are both to blame for the recent attacks.