An elderly person took a one-year-old child home and was bitten by an angry dog for 3 minutes
On October 19th, an unfortunate incident occurred in Guizhou Province when an elderly person and a one-year-old child were attacked by a vicious dog while returning home from a stroll. The incident sparked widespread outrage on Chinese social media platforms like Weibo, with netizens expressing their shock, anger, and fear towards the increasing number of dog biting cases in the country.
19 October 2023
Many netizens have expressed their frustration towards irresponsible pet owners who fail to control their dogs, leading to frequent incidents such as these. One Weibo user shared a post saying, "Dogs are not friends of humanity. They're only friends to those who like them; for those who don't even like or fear them, they are adversaries." This highlights the growing sentiment among Chinese citizens that dog owners should take more responsibility in controlling their pets and preventing such attacks.
The severity of the attack on the elderly person and the child is a cause for concern. The grandmother was bitten for around two to three minutes before help arrived, and she suffered severe nerve damage as a result. The child's condition is also unknown at this time, but it is clear that both individuals have undergone significant trauma due to the incident.
The case serves as a grim reminder of the dangers that stray or uncontrolled dogs pose in urban areas. Other Weibo users shared similar experiences of living in communities where pets were not restricted, attracting more stray dogs and making it stressful for residents to go about their daily routines. A netizen stated, "The community I used to live in was full of dogs that were not restricted, and the pets were especially attractive to stray dogs. The property management team never took action, making it feel like a dog kennel."
This incident has sparked intense discussions among Weibo users on how dog owners should be held more accountable for their pets' behavior and the need for stricter regulations regarding pet ownership in China. Some netizens have suggested enforcing harsher penalties for irresponsible pet owners, such as locking them together with their dogs or denying food to the pets until proper control measures are put in place.
The hashtag #DogsAreEnemies trended on Weibo, reflecting the growing sentiment among Chinese citizens that dogs should be treated more like adversaries rather than friends or beloved pets. Many netizens expressed fear and despair at the increasing number of dog bite cases across China, with some even vowing to avoid walking past dogs in the future.
As they wish for a speedy recovery for the elderly person and child, netizens are calling for increased awareness and action from both pet owners and local authorities to curb such incidents. The incident serves as a wake-up call for China to reassess its approach towards dog ownership, ensuring that pets are treated responsibly and the safety of citizens is prioritized over their affection for animals.
In this context, it's also worth noting that similar cases have been reported in recent times. In early September, a case of an elderly person being bitten by a rabid dog emerged, which was re-released in the recent heat wave. This surge in dog bite incidents has led many Weibo users to express their disbelief and frustration at how common such cases have become.
In conclusion, the attack on an elderly person and a child by a vicious dog in Guizhou Province highlights the growing concerns over rampant dog-related incidents in China. As netizens demand stricter laws and increased accountability from pet owners, it remains to be seen how the Chinese government will respond to these calls for change. However, one thing is certain: the safety of citizens should always be paramount when addressing issues related to pets and their behavior.