Noise levels comparable to those inside a subway train.
This surveillance camera footage from Sichuan Province, China, captures a situation that sounds absolutely alarming: a resident from a lower floor, unable to tolerate the noise (around 100 decibels) coming from the unit above, stormed upstairs and eliminated the “source” of the sound. The source turned out to be a dog—one wonders if it is safe.
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What lies behind the frequent disputes over dog noise in China?
Disputes between neighbors of this kind are by no means unusual in China. Pet ownership has expanded rapidly—with the number of pet-owning households exceeding 100 million as of 2023 and the market size projected to reach roughly half that of the home appliance market by 2026—yet standards of etiquette, such as keeping dogs on leashes and cleaning up waste, have failed to keep pace; consequently, heated conflicts between pet owners are frequently reported on social media.
There have even been past instances where physical action was taken against animals due to noise complaints. In December 2024, an incident occurred in Guangzhou where poison was scattered in a green space because a resident was unable to sleep due to barking dogs, resulting in the deaths of over 40 dogs within a few days. Additionally, in June 2026, footage circulated on social media showing youths abusing a stray dog to death in Jieyang, Guangdong Province; while this sparked widespread domestic and international criticism and calls for legislation to prevent animal cruelty, China still lacks a national law comprehensively prohibiting the abuse of companion animals, and the inadequacy of the legal framework is repeatedly pointed out.
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