A recent ordinance on keeping dogs in the urban area of a county-level city in Southwest China's Yunnan province has aroused spirited public debate, most opposing the ordinance, since it stipulated dog owners could not walk their dogs from 7 am to 10 pm.

Wenshan, the city in question, issued a seven-article ordinance for keeping dogs in the urban area last Monday, with the so-called aim of improving citizens' living conditions and maintaining public safety. The ordinance took effect on the release date, Oct 29.

Dog owners are not allowed to walk their pets in the city's urban area from 7 am to 10 pm, and the dog must be on a leash no longer than one meter and held by an adult when going outdoors, according to the ordinance.

While some people support the ordinance, saying it makes people feel safer on roads, some dog keepers complain that they can only walk the dog very early in the morning or very late at night if they follow the rule.

Some people think it is not reasonable or feasible, due to the fact dogs barking in the early morning or at night is still a disturbance to citizens.

There were some rules in the ordinance similar to bigger cities like Beijing and Shanghai, including dogs must receive certain vaccines, owners cleaning up their pet's fecal matter in public places, dogs not permitted in places where they are forbidden and no dogs on public transportation, except taxis.

According to the ordinance, owners should ensure their dogs do not disturb others' rest or even frighten and attack people; anyone can take actions to control a dog that is hurting someone else; dogs that previously hurt people shall not be kept in the city and suspected cases of rabies should be reported to the local prevention and control center of animal disease by the owner.

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