In Jinhua, Zhejiang, a man driving on a rural dirt road encountered a small dog lying in the middle of the road, relaxing in the sun near its owner’s house. The dog was not tied. The driver stopped, honked twice, and after waiting a few seconds, drove forward and ran over the dog. The dog screamed in pain and the owner rushed out.

Both sides argued, and the dog owner later posted the surveillance video online asking for public opinion. Netizens were divided:

• Some people blamed the dog owner, saying the driver already showed kindness by honking and likely thought the dog had moved. They argued that drivers cannot always get out of their cars to check.
• Others blamed the driver, saying the road was wide enough to avoid the dog, and that a responsible person would either go around or get out to confirm the dog had moved.

Many commenters concluded that the core issue is the dog not being leashed. In rural areas, people are used to letting pets lie around outside, thinking it’s safe. But animals cannot judge danger, and leaving them unrestrained exposes them to risks like this.

The debate over whether the driver should have avoided the dog can continue, but one thing is clear: controlling pets and keeping them leashed is the simplest and safest way to prevent accidents.