Animal advocates hope to break barriers (2)

"I have bought her pets from time to time, such as fish, birds, silkworms and a rabbit. Likewise, children in our kindergarten are tasked with observing, tending and feeding caged animals in the yard, so long as it is under the supervision of teachers," she added. "Helping rear these animals will also help kids become familiar with animals and care for them."

But for some Chinese people, a wariness of dogs is deeply ingrained. Some dog owners said they often receive insults from passers-by when they walk their pets.

"I'm annoyed when pedestrians stay clear of my chihuahua or parents shield their children behind them. Some even order me to get away from them," said a Tianjin University of Technology freshman surnamed Li.

Chen Qinggang, a psychiatrist in Tianjin Anding Hospital, which specializes in psychological consultancy and treatment, said it is difficult to strike a balance between encouraging children to like animals and preventing kids from interacting with them due to health or safety concerns.

He suggested parents also become more familiar with animals so they can weigh the risks rationally.

He said parents are right to take protective measures in encounters with wild dogs because of the possibility that the animal might have rabies or other communicable diseases.

Wang Jing, director of Tianjin Beining Pet Clinic, said parents who take in stray animals should take them to the vet for a physical examination before allowing them to interact with their children.

She said parents need to protect their children from diseases.

"But diseases like toxoplasmosis affect pregnant women and fetuses only, so parents don't need to panic about it," Wang said.

Tianjin's shelters

Tianjin Common House Stray Animal Rescue Center

Common House, which is now home to 2,000 dogs and 200 cats, was the brainchild of Yang Xiaoyun. The center was founded in 1995 when her husband passed away. The initial spark for the rescue center can be traced back to 19 years ago.

After failing to make a deal, an illegal peddler cruelly threw a cat into a canal. The cat survived thanks to Yang, who resolved to help other cats and dogs.

As her center hosted more and more animals, Yang ran out of money. To sustain her undertaking, she sold two houses.

She has been forced to relocate the center nine times, because of neighbors' complaints about the dogs' barking.

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