China’s approach to the management of stray dogs in large cities has become much more popular online and claims that China has successfully eliminated stray dogs from city streets. But official information is far from that.
Rather than completely eradicate stray dogs from China, a number of cities have introduced stricter registration requirements, enforcement measures, public space restrictions and capture programs to reduce the number of dogs in cities.
In Shanghai, for example, the current dog-management system in the city gives authorities the responsibility of dealing with stray, lost and problematic dogs. Shanghai police have facilities for the disposal and sheltering of dogs, and local police have responsibility for dealing with stray and lost animals. If dogs are not claimed within certain periods, they may be placed for adoption.
This indicates that stray dogs have not simply disappeared from Chinese cities. The authorities have established systems to handle animals that are found on streets and in public places by themselves and have established systems to manage them. The aim is generally related to public safety, disease prevention, responsible pet ownership and orderly city life.
Other Chinese cities are still dealing with the issue. In Zhengzhou, municipal authorities reported continued inspections and management of stray dogs in 2026. The city also said hundreds of stray dogs were taken into custody as part of its enforcement as well as controls on irresponsible dog ownership.
Moreover, Wujiang officials reported that more than 2,300 unowned or stray dogs were seized and taken into custody in 2026 and then the animals were transferred for further care. The numbers illustrate that stray and unowned dogs are still a management problem in some Chinese cities, not completely eliminated.
China’s focus is also increasingly on regulating pet ownership. Registration, vaccination, identification and rules on where dogs can be taken are key parts of urban dog-management systems. Chengdu, for instance, adopted new regulations in 2026 that detail responsibilities of dog owners in public spaces (control of animals, picking up after them, and safety precautions in shared areas). The rules also specify the places where dogs cannot be taken, such as public facilities and transport systems.
Shanghai’s regulations also provide a structured system for dog registration, annual checks, vaccination and management of animals that are lost, abandoned or found without owners. Such policies are intended to reduce uncontrolled dog populations and encourage responsible ownership rather than suggest that every stray dog has been permanently removed from the streets.
The topic has also attracted public attention because animal welfare is still part of the wider conversation around stray-animal management in China. In 2026, public concern over cases involving cruelty toward stray animals was reported to continue to be an issue in China and animal-protection advocates remain active.
It is so important to differentiate between stray-dog control and full elimination. A city can reduce the number of dogs roaming freely through registration, sterilisation programmes, sheltering, adoption, enforcement and responsible-pet-ownership campaigns without completely eliminating stray animals.
Effective urban dog management can address road safety, animal attacks, noise, sanitation, and diseases in the home as well as the problem of road safety, animal attacks, noise, sanitation and spread of diseases for residents. At the same time, enforcement and handling of animals is required in line with applicable regulations and welfare standards, which is not easy to achieve.
China’s experience demonstrates that controlling stray animals in large urban populations will need administrative and community efforts rather than one-time campaigns. Different cities have different approaches based on local regulations, population density and public concern.
Therefore, some Chinese cities may have reduced the visibility of stray dogs on major streets through intensive management, but the broader fact that China has completely eliminated stray dogs from the roads of all its major cities is not supported by current official evidence.
Municipal records demonstrate stray dog cases, capture operations and shelter systems ongoing as well, so this problem is still an issue in urban management.
