Amid contentious social debate, dogs are not a 'walk in the park'
A woman walks her dog at Yuehu Sculpture Park, one of the few parks open to dogs.
Taking your dog for a walk is part of what we think of as pet care, but beloved companion animals are not welcome in most city parks because of the disruption they may cause, the noise they may make, the fear they instill and the doggie poo they inevitably drop.
A debate has arisen about whether pets should be allowed in parks and, if so, should they be charged special fees.
Shanghai’s park regulations ban pets from entry, but a few parks in the city do welcome furry visitors in certain situations.
Yuehu Sculpture Park in Songjiang District was one of the first to open its gates to dogs. The lawns and lakes there make it an ideal place.
The park charges a 30-yuan (US$4.32) admission fee for each pet, on top of the 100-yuan fee for adults.
The park welcomes any canine, including big and fierce breeds, but each dog must be licensed and kept on a leash.
Pet owners must carry bags to pick up any mess, and they are advised to keep their pets away from children, the elderly and pregnant women.
When the weather is good, there are dozens of pets in the park, said a ticket seller.
“The pet ticket is not expensive, and I don’t care how much I pay if a park in the city allows dogs,” said Chen Wei, who was taking his dog named Xiaolongbao into the park. “Very few parks allow pets, and I hope more will do so.”
Chen lives in Yangpu District and drove 90 minutes to the park. It was his second visit.
“I come here because it’s a pleasant environment,” he said. “I keep Xiaolongbao on a leash. I think parks should allow pets in if their owners keep them under control.”
Ann Lin lives in Minhang District and frequently drives 40 kilometers to the park.
“I visit here once every week or two. The pet ticket is quite affordable and it’s a good place to walk a dog,” she said. “Plus, there are not usually many people here. Dogs need a place to relax as much as humans.”
A man walks his dog at Yuehu Sculpture Park
But not everybody is happy about the idea.
“There are a lot of kids in the park, and it is not safe,” said Liu Hui, who was with his 5-year-old son.
“Some dogs are off the leash, and the dogs run around scaring children.”
“A park is a public place and not suitable for pets,” said Li Juan, who is in her 60s. “I avoid dogs because I don’t want to get bitten.”
The dog owners themselves have some reservations about admission fees.
“I think the pet ticket price is reasonable, but my dog obviously can’t enter the park without me, and the adult ticket costs 100 yuan,” said Yu Tingya. “I would rather take my dog on walks around my residential complex.”
The park’s operator said the pet fee was determined based on an assessment of the environmental and social impact of dogs in the park.
Other parks are addressing the debate more tentatively.
Binjiang Forest Park in the Pudong New Area has hosted several pet days.
There is no dog-entry fee, but owners, like all visitors, pay an admission fee of 20 yuan. On Saturday, there were about 200 dogs in the park.
“Dogs are members of the family, and many visitors tell us they don’t want to leave their pets at home alone when they come to the park,” said Jin Yuling, a member of park staff.
“Regulations in Shanghai do not allow pets, but we are trying to find ways to satisfy pet owners. There is actually quite a big demand.”
Some visitors have tried to sneak small dogs into the park in shopping bags.
“On pet activity days, owners show their dog licenses at the gate and they accompany their pets at all times,” said Jin.
Areas where dogs are allowed are cordoned off to minimize disruption to other visitors.
A park survey on a pet activity day found that 85 percent of visitors had no objection dogs, as long as their owners kept them in check.
Shanghai Zoo and most parks in the city have a blanket ban on all pets.
“We would have concerns about cross-infection among our animals,” said Wu Tong, an official at Shanghai Zoo.
Gongqing Forest Park and Chenshan Botanical Garden said they view dogs as environmentally unfriendly.
