Shao Yunyun walks her poodle near Taihu Lake in Suzhou, Jiangsu province. GAO ERQIANG/CHINA DAILY

Cradling her 2-year-old white poodle in her arms, Shao Yunyun was recently denied entry to the indoor area of a cafe near Suzhou Creek in downtown Shanghai, an establishment which she and her dog had previously frequented.

Opened in 2023 and previously known for its pet-friendly environment across its entire premises, the cafe now only allows pets in its outdoor seating area.

Cafe staff explained to Shao that if police find customers with dogs indoors, whether on a leash, in a stroller, or being held, both the pet owner and the store will face fines.

Shanghai, a magnet for young talent, has seen a rise in pet ownership among its youth in recent years. The tightening of pet-friendly policies in the city has become a hot topic among pet owners.

Previously pet-friendly malls like HKRI Taikoo Hui in Jing'an district and Grand Gateway 66 in Xuhui district, which were popular among pet owners, recently removed their pet-friendly signs, prohibiting all animals except guide dogs. The malls cited the need to ensure a pleasant shopping experience and maintain public order as reasons for the change.

It is widely believed that the changes were brought about by the implementation of the operational standard of pet-friendly malls, set by the China Commerce Association for General Merchandise, that started in February.

The document emphasizes that malls should manage their premises and provide necessary facilities, while pet owners must prioritize safety and health, practice responsible pet ownership, and maintain effective control over their pets.

Pets are only allowed in outdoor plazas, open-air streets, designated pet areas, and non-food shops, according to the standard. Malls are required to provide facilities, including pet restrooms, cleaning stations, and equipment rentals, such as strollers, backpacks, leashes, and muzzles. However, many malls failing to meet such requirements have opted to retract their pet-friendly policies, which some pet lovers view as a step backward.

According to official announcements from local governments and local media reports, the regulations have been implemented in multiple cities across the country. However, local regulations regarding pet dogs have influenced the degree of enforcement of the new rules.

For instance, in cities with strict regulations such as Shanghai, Beijing, and Wuhan in Hubei province, local laws clearly prohibit dogs indoors, allowing them only in outdoor or designated areas, with pet-friendly facilities concentrated outdoors.

In cities with more lenient regulations like Shenzhen and Guangzhou in Guangdong province and Chengdu in Sichuan province, there is no local law prohibiting pet dogs from entering shopping malls, so these cities align with the new standards set by the association.

Despite the stricter measures, pet owners like Shao and some social observers argue that clear rules are essential for true pet-friendly establishments. Transparent regulations help shift human-pet coexistence in big cities from vague, "fake friendliness" to a more structured, balanced, and sustainable approach, they argue.

Zha Zhenliang, secretary-general of the Shanghai Yicai Flying Foundation, which focuses on issues including promoting responsible pet ownership, said that being pet-friendly does not mean allowing pets to enter all public areas without limitations or requiring individuals who are fearful of or allergic to animals to completely compromise.

"Balancing the need for order and hygiene in public spaces with the growing demand for pet-friendly outings challenges both urban management and the responsibility of all pet owners," he said.

A Shanghai resident walks with her dogs on the catwalk during the Shanghai Pet Fashion Show in March 2025. GAO ERQIANG/CHINA DAILY

Social creatures

Many dog owners in their 20s and 30s advocate "scientific" dog raising, focusing on both the physical and mental health of their dogs. They treat their animals like children, taking care of their diet and sleep and also their social needs.

"We hope our dogs make friends they like and have fun playing with them. As a dog owner, the first thing on my mind every day is where to take my pet for a walk and which new pet-friendly facility I can take her to over the weekend to socialize," said Shao, 32.

Pet owners take their dogs out to meet their social needs, providing them with a rich environment and interactions to develop a stable and affectionate personality. They also try to spend weekends with their dogs as they are left home alone for long hours on workdays.

In 2024, when Shao started raising her poodle, some ride-hailing platforms introduced pet-friendly vehicles. That was a period when pet-friendliness was booming. Shao said she experienced various new activities that allowed pet participation, and felt that there was enough space for humans and pets to coexist in the city.

However, as she gained more experience in dog-raising, she noticed that the pet-friendly approach lacked any legal basis and could easily lead to businesses tightening or changing their policies due to complaints.

For a mall or public space to be truly pet-friendly, it must clearly state that it welcomes pets and have a clear and consistent attitude to the concept, according to Shao.

"It can't just be a vague and low-key welcome. Otherwise, once someone complains about my dog, the mall won't support me and will stand against me instead," she said.

The second step for a genuinely pet-friendly mall is to have clear rules and response measures in place, showing that it is prepared for any eventuality involving a pet, she added.

"This includes having cleaning staff who can quickly mop up dog urine or pick up waste if an irresponsible pet owner leaves it behind," said Shao. "Of course, a better approach is for the owner to clean up immediately if the dog urinates in the mall or to have the dog wear a diaper."

Some pet owners said although certain venues label themselves pet-friendly, staff have a poor attitude, making the experience of taking their dog there unpleasant.

Cui Ming, who has raised a Labrador retriever for six years, said some so-called pet-friendly Shanghai venues are not friendly enough. As her dog exceeds most malls' shoulder height limit of 35 centimeters, she cannot take her pet into any mall.

"I'm not necessarily trying to take my pet to a restaurant because many don't have suitable food for pets, but I have the need to eat. Sometimes, I just want to go to the mall to buy a bottle of water or use the restroom, but I fail to get in," said Cui, 38.

Despite the new restrictions, the pet economy is showing no signs of slowing down. According to the industry platform Petdata, the urban cat and dog consumption market in China exceeded 312 billion yuan ($45.8 billion) last year, and is expected to reach 405 billion yuan by 2028.

Many consumer spaces are eagerly embracing the pet economy. Figures released by the Shanghai Commercial Association and others in September showed that Shanghai had over 4,000 pet-related stores, while pet-friendly malls and parks once numbered 40.

Working dogs at the Bund Finance Center in Shanghai are dressed in formal attire in February. GAO ERQIANG/CHINA DAILY

Complaints on the rise

In a mall located on Ruihong Road in Hongkou district, the Dada Paw interaction space for pets and their owners is well-known among dog lovers.

Besides offering the functions of a traditional pet store, the venue provides enough space for pets to run and play freely while their owners chat. Some owners said they need places like this so their dogs can socialize and they can share their pet experiences.

However, the social hub has received a slew of complaints.

"Police officers from the local station said that we rank first in the district for the number of police calls received, with at least six in the latter half of last year," said Dai Wengai, manager of Dada Paw.

Dai said the space focuses on social retail around pets and there is a sign indicating that there are many pets inside. Individuals who dislike pets can choose not to enter.

Pan Shuhong, a lawmaker in Shanghai, said the city's laws have never permitted dogs, except for service dogs, to enter public facilities, including malls, or to travel on public transportation. The pet-friendly atmosphere in recent years was actually malls operating in a gray area, he said.

"I believe that the premise of pet-friendliness should be a social consensus, and that businesses have the necessary infrastructure to meet pet-friendly conditions. Otherwise, the outcome may not lead to the harmonious human-pet interactions that everyone expects," said Pan, who is also a lawyer.

Some Shanghai residents have said the needs of non-pet owners should be given equal consideration. Some people are allergic to cat and dog hair, while others have encountered situations where dogs are unleashed or bark and disturb the peace.

They argue that accommodating pet owners should never come at the expense of the consumer experience of everyone.

Cui said that some dog owners need to improve their behavior. "I see some dog owners in the residential compound walking their dogs without leashes, not picking up their dogs' waste, and allowing their pets to urinate on other people's car tires. If such behavior continues, pet owners will only find their paths becoming narrower," she said.

A cyclist carries his dog on Fuxing East Road in Shanghai. GAO ERQIANG/CHINA DAILY

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.

A child interacts with dogs at Xuhui's Binjiang area in Shanghai. GAO ERQIANG/CHINA DAILY

A pet owner relaxes with his dog outside a cafe in Shanghai's Xintiandi area. GAO ERQIANG/CHINA DAILY

A resident shops with his cat at a pet supermarket in Shanghai on March 1, 2025. GAO ERQIANG/CHINA DAILY