The behavior of pet owners who neglect basic etiquette has drawn widespread criticism from the public, as it not only harms the environment but also poses significant safety risks to others—a viewpoint shared by many. Mr. Liu, for instance, views such pet owners as prioritizing their own convenience at the expense of others. Allowing dogs to roam off-leash can lead to incidents where a dog might bite someone, leaving the owner liable. Additionally, failing to promptly clean up after one’s pet tarnishes the shared living spaces for all residents.

Currently, the primary approach by authorities to address these issues is through increased civil persuasion. Both the Binhai New Area Haibin Street Office and the Hujiayuan Street Office have committed to instructing property management companies to enhance their efforts in劝说 and guidance.

However, urban pet ownership is not solely about advocacy; our city has had established regulations for some time. The “Tianjin Civilized Behavior Promotion Regulations,” implemented in 2019, explicitly state that dog owners must adhere to relevant laws and regulations and maintain a level of civility in pet care. This includes ensuring an adult accompanies the dog on a leash when in public to actively prevent disturbances, cleaning up after the dog in public spaces, and managing the pet to avoid impacting others’ quality of life. Violations of these rules are met with specific penalties, such as fines, or in severe cases, the confiscation of the animal.

Despite these provisions and punitive measures, law enforcement officers interviewed highlighted the challenges they face in enforcing these regulations due to the transient nature of offenses, the unpredictability of locations, and the difficulty in obtaining evidence of uncivilized pet behavior, making it tough to impose penalties.