Doggy 'do's and don'ts'

Shao finds it contradictory that critical voices online say that dogs should not be in malls, and should be running on large lawn areas instead.

However, there are very few parks in Shanghai that allow dogs. For example, Zhongshan Park next to her home explicitly prohibits dogs from entering at all times.

"This makes me feel that dog owners fulfill their obligations like obtaining dog licenses, but don't enjoy corresponding rights," she said.

Pet owners have suggested time-based and area-based access. For instance, dogs should be allowed in parks before 9 am and after 7 pm, while leaving the "better times" and "sunlight periods" in the parks for people to enjoy.

Shao said in neighboring Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, some public facilities have good pet-friendly policies. The Ginkgo Swan Lake scenic spot, for instance, is zoned to accommodate different groups. It has a designated area with large lawns for pet dogs, where they can be unleashed to play and socialize.

"An amusement train in this scenic area operates several times a day, and one of them is exclusively open to visitors with pets," she added.

Pet owners said that although the shoulder-height rule in pet-friendly malls leads to large dogs being refused entry, clear management is a step forward. "A pet-friendly environment like what exists in Europe requires long-term education, including life education, to support it," said Shao.

Zha from the foundation said the movement toward regulating pet-friendliness in Shanghai's malls might experience temporary growing pains, but as long as all parties adhere to the rules and understand each other, they can gradually balance human-pet coexistence.