Shanghai residents clash over feeding strays amid safety risks, wildlife conflicts, and legal liability. One community sterilized 83 cats. Learn the facts, risks, and responsible options.
Tags:“Feeding Strays Is the Most Hypocritical Kind of Love”: Shanghai Residents Clash
Some residents treat stray animals like family. Others say feeding them is “the most hypocritical kind of love.” A Shanghai public discussion revealed just how divided communities have become.
Stray cats and dogs are now common in many Shanghai residential compounds. Hedgehogs, weasels and raccoon dogs—a native wild species—have also appeared near people’s homes. In one unusual case, someone abandoned a crocodile in a residential pond. Professionals needed more than 10 hours to remove it.
As humans, pets, strays and wildlife increasingly share the same urban space, Shanghai residents are arguing over a difficult question: should people feed these animals or leave them alone?
“I treat them as family”
One resident described stray dogs roaming around his neighborhood as a safety risk. Their barking during territorial fights also kept people awake at night.
A property-management employee said residents continued feeding strays despite requests to stop. The compound had recorded two cases of dogs biting people and one involving a cat injuring someone.
Other communities are dealing with raccoon dogs. The animals dig homes in green spaces and gaps between buildings, and have reportedly attacked stray animals and household pets.
Animal lovers see the situation differently.
One woman said she considered stray cats and dogs family. She fed them at fixed locations and paid for medical treatment when cats became sick.
“I hope these stray cats and dogs can all have somewhere to live,” she said.
“The most hypocritical kind of love”
A Shanghai cat-café owner strongly disagreed.
“Feeding is actually the most hypocritical kind of love,” he said.
He argued that food encourages strays to gather, while leftovers can attract wildlife and increase conflict.
Feeding may also carry legal risks.
A legal assistant from the Jinshan District People’s Court said someone who effectively manages or controls an animal could be considered its keeper. If it injures another person, the feeder could face civil liability.
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Removing the animals may create new problems
Some participants warned that simply capturing or driving away stray animals would not solve everything.
One resident said her community previously carried out a large-scale removal of stray cats and dogs. Their numbers fell—but snakes and rats subsequently increased.
Another volunteer said suddenly stopping feeding could push animals into private gardens and rubbish bins, creating new disturbances and possible property damage.
Wildlife specialists urged residents to keep their distance and contact forestry or police authorities instead of touching or removing wild animals themselves.
One community sterilized 83 cats
Some Shanghai neighborhoods are trying more organized approaches.
One community has partnered with a nonprofit organization to install smart cat shelters, guide residents on responsible feeding and carry out a trap-neuter-return program.
So far, 83 stray cats in the compound have been sterilized, while more than 10 have found new homes.
Participants said feeding alone is not enough. Sterilization, vaccination, cleaning, complaints and responsibility for animal-related injuries must also be addressed.
For Shanghai communities, the question may no longer be simply whether people love animals. It is whether that love comes with continuing responsibility.
Source: 话匣子
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