Chinese district bans pet dogs; threatens to kill all

A district government in east China has banned pet dogs and threatened to kill them on the spot if they were not removed, triggering protests from canine lovers.
"All dogs must be removed from the district before September 10, otherwise authorities will enter your house and kill your dog on the spot," state-run Global Times today reported.
Termed as a "the cruelest ban", a statement released by local government of Dayang district in Shandong province said that the district government will ban residents from keeping dogs, including those who have an animal license. It defended the ban saying that it is for the good of residents and the district's hygiene.

"The rule is aimed at preventing stray dogs from hurting residents, but made no further comments on why domestic dogs should also be eliminated," a district officer said.
"It's unacceptable. Many residents here keep dogs and have an animal license. They cannot kill my dog and have absolutely no right to storm into my house without permission," a resident surnamed Yang told the paper.
For many Chinese who are permitted only one child, dogs have become life companions. Love for dogs has become so strong that several volunteer groups have been stopping lorries carrying captured dogs for slaughtered houses for meat in recent years and seizing the animals.

Many netizens slammed the measure as barbaric and urged the government to reconsider the ban, the report said.
A similar regulation has been enforced in Huidong county, Sichuan Province, with the local government forbidding dogs in public areas, and would kill any stray dog.