Leash your dog and follow local rabies-vaccination and registration rules

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Cost: A leash costs tens of yuan. Rabies vaccination and dog registration also cost money, with local charges varying. The difficult part is using the leash on every outing and keeping vaccinations up to date.
In plain language: Under the Chinese provisions described by the source, a keeper or handler generally bears liability for an animal injuring someone even without proof of fault. Intentional conduct or gross negligence by the injured person may provide a defence in the ordinary category. Where required safety measures were not taken, intentional conduct by the injured person may reduce liability; the gross-negligence exception no longer applies. Injuries caused by prohibited dangerous dogs do not have those statutory exceptions. Failure to vaccinate can lead to a correction order and fines.
Legal provisions reported by the source: Civil Code articles 1245–1247 distinguish ordinary animal liability, violations of management rules or missing safety measures, and prohibited dangerous animals. Article 1249 keeps the original keeper or handler responsible for injury during abandonment or escape. Article 89 of the revised Public Security Administration Punishments Law describes a fine up to 1,000 yuan for injury caused by failure to take animal safety measures, or five to ten days' detention for more serious circumstances. Animal Epidemic Prevention Law article 30 requires prescribed regular rabies vaccination, registration using a veterinary institution's vaccination certificate, and prescribed tags and restraints when taking dogs outside. Article 92 provides a deadline to correct missing vaccination and a possible fine up to 1,000 yuan. Failure to correct by the deadline can lead to a fine of 1,000–5,000 yuan and handling by an authorized veterinary or other institution at the violator's expense. Scope: China; the source dates the revised public-security law to January 1, 2026 and the animal law to May 1, 2021.
Source author's evidence grade: A; not site verification or professional approval.
Notes: Compensation can include medical expenses, lost earnings, rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin. The source describes bills exceeding 10,000 yuan as common, with larger amounts for serious injuries or injuries to children; these are source assertions rather than verified cost estimates. Abandonment or escape does not remove the original keeper's liability. Provincial authorities determine detailed dog epidemic-prevention rules, so check local registration location, fees and vaccination intervals. For what to do after a dog or cat bite, see chapter 13, entry 13.
Source provisions: Civil Code (2020), articles 1245, 1246, 1247 and 1249: https://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/fl/202006/t20200602_463888.shtml; Public Security Administration Punishments Law (2025 revision), article 89: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff80818197af9ccc0197b159c38a0408; Animal Epidemic Prevention Law (2021 revision), articles 30 and 92: https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=ff8080817703add2017737395a973e31.