As man's best and most loyal friends, dogs top the list of must-haves in the national craze for pet animals. About 550,000 dogs share space with humans in the increasingly crowded capital of Beijing alone. The figure would be much higher if unregistered and stray canines were taken into account.

Dogs can be a joy to have around - the wagging tail at the sound of the door being unlocked, the excitement in the tossing of a tennis ball and the warmth of a head nestled in your lap. Anyone who has ever owned or loved a dog would readily attest to that.

Unfortunately, to many others dogs are a nuisance.

The problems of dog bites, defecating in public places and barking were on the agenda of an emotionally charged meeting convened by residents of Hujialou in Chaoyang District of Beijing.

Though anti-pet activists recognized dog ownership as an individual right, they tried to draw dog owners' attention to "the deteriorating living environment" due to the rising numbers of pets in the neighbourhood.

Dissent aside, both sides agreed that the key to a harmonious neighbourhood lay in fostering responsible dog ownership. Since the meeting, all dog owners in the neighbourhood have started walking their puppies on a leash, muzzling the more aggressive breeds and cleaning up after their pets. The result: neighbours who once hated dogs have now started liking them.

That's a small example of responsible ownership and how it can help turn around attitudes towards dogs.

But responsible dog ownership goes far beyond keeping puppies on a leash in public and cleaning up after them. It means much more than food, water and shelter. It's a sense of duty and commitment to both dogs and the people sharing the neighbourhood.

Responsible dog ownership means:

First, complying with local laws and regulations.

By obeying the laws and training your dog not to be a nuisance, you would be winning friends for both your dog and yourself. Or, conversely, you could be creating pet-haters like the 100,000 Beijingers who have been injured by pet animals so far this year, prompting the city's police and city authorities to begin a two-month crackdown on the illegal trading and possession of dogs on Tuesday.

Second, making sure your dog is vaccinated for your own safety and the safety of others.

According to the Ministry of Health, rabies claimed the lives of 237 people across the country in July. The death toll rose 27 per cent to 301 in August. The fear of rabies among the public after dozens of people were bitten by dogs forced the authorities in Muding County in Yunnan Province and Jining in Shandong Province to slaughter dogs on a mass scale earlier this year. Although the killings drew a barrage of criticism both at home and abroad, rabies does kill and can cause panic.

Third, a lifelong commitment to care for and love your dog.

The most irresponsible thing to do is to treat your dog as a toy and dump it when you get bored with it. Like all animals, including human beings, dogs can fall sick, do get old and can even become depressed. They depend on their owners for medical care, old-age nursing and mental stimulation.

For health or other reasons, you may have to part with your dog. But remember to send it to the local nursing home. Someone else may pick up the relay baton to carry on the mission that you failed to complete.

Fourth, holding yourself responsible for whatever damage your dog does and taking steps to rectify it.

Dogs behave in a way that is natural to them and, unlike humans, they don't have the ability to evaluate the extent of damage they may cause to humans and their property. But you, as its owner, do.

Responsible dog ownership certainly involves many other things. But to start off, you may want to ask yourself what you can do for the dog before asking what the dog can do for you.

Email: zouhr@chinadaily.com.hk

(China Daily 10/27/2006 page4)