New York Sun editor John B. Bogart is often quoted as having said "when a dog bites a man, that is not news; but if a man bites a dog, that is news."

However, recurrent dog bites, which have caused serious injuries or even deaths in China, have headlined many major newspapers this summer.

On May 27, in southwestern Guizhou Province, an elderly man was bitten to death halfway by two large Dogo Argentinos.

On June 27, a six-year-old girl in Dalian, China's northeastern seaport, was attacked by an untethered Tibetan mastiff, who ripped out her throat.

Earlier this month in Beijing, another 6-year-old kid was bitten by another Tibetan mastiff. The girl, who had 60 stitches in her face, was disfigured.

These are just some typical examples from recent months. According to the statistics of local authorities, the number of dog bites reports reached up to 1,500 this May in Shijiazhuang, capital of Hebei Province.

Over 2,000 people in China are killed by rabies each year, the second highest number in the world.

Things are not too much better in other countries. In Pune, India, over 5,000 dog-bite accidents were reported this April, and the yearly number amounts to more than 12,000 on average.

What really matters is why China, unlike other countries which enjoy similar  level of economic development, has seen cases dramatically increase, with injury and fatality rates also rising.

Some argue that China needs more laws, but that is not the point.

The question lies in whether existing laws and regulations can be carried out on the ground. A lack of enforcement is the culprit, directly or indirectly, of the dog-bite crisis.

Some might disagree, claiming that dog raisers should take the brunt. It is their lack of moral consciousness, shown by letting their dogs roam, that is behind most tragedies.

Chinese authorities, if observed from how they handle urgent and controversial accidents, are always coming up with new and contemporary regulations instead of committing to the existing ones.

Every time dog-bite accidents increase, many city authorities find a one-size-fit-all policy. City-wide dog catching and killing drives are employed by almost all local governments, which means that many innocent dogs are slaughtered.

There is no need to introduce more provisional and ill-considered regulations to appease the public's resentment about dog bites. The key is how to solidly apply every single existing regulation and law.

Many cities have long registered their own provisions on how to handle dog ownership, and most of them have clear stipulations about ferocious and aggressive dogs.

For example, they are required to be tethered and muzzled when led outside by their owners and shall avoid being around the elderly, the disabled, pregnant women and children. Kennels have to be built outside the city and the owners must put up warning signs outside the grounds.

Besides, the law outlines a series of crimes that are applicable to owners of dangerous dogs, such as negligent homicide, endangering public security and intentional injury.

The problem is, if you look around your community or streets, few people follow such rules.

Untied and unmuzzled dogs, even giant dogs like breeds, run around unsupervised.

More leniently, the owners of aggressive dogs are seldom prosecuted, even though they should bear responsibility rather than the dogs. Similar cases in the US would see the owners charged with negligent homicide and face potential jail terms.

Turning a blind eye on law enforcement indulges the public to overlook the rules and brush aside the interests of others.

This ignorance adds to the odds of dog bites, and more accidents simply cause the local authorities to lead a dog-killing and futile campaign. The dogs aren't to blame, people are.

The author is a Global Times reporter. liuzhun@globaltimes.com.cn