Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Ahmad Amiri , Assistant Professor Faculty of Law and Political Science of Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
2
Assistant Professor Faculty of Law and Political Science of Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran.
10.22099/iuds.2026.55673.1145
Abstract
Dog walking in urban public spaces, as an emerging manifestation of contemporary urban lifestyles, has in recent years become a multidimensional issue within the fields of urban law and public space management. Beyond being an individual practice, this phenomenon lies at the intersection of citizens’ rights, public order, public health, and the regulation of the use of public spaces. This study aims to provide a legal analysis of dog walking and examine its implications for public order, public health, the right to the city, and spatial justice in the city of Shiraz. The research is fundamental–applied in purpose and qualitative in nature, employing a spatial–legal analytical approach. Research data were collected through an analysis of existing laws and regulations, urban legal documents, and relevant theoretical literature, as well as field observations and semi-structured interviews conducted in the Eram Street area of Shiraz. The collected data were analyzed within the conceptual frameworks of public order, public health, the right to the city and spatial justice.
The findings indicate that the Iranian legal system lacks a clear and integrated framework for regulating dog walking in urban public spaces. Existing regulations, due to their fragmentation and ambiguity, are insufficient to effectively manage the social, health-related, and spatial consequences of this phenomenon. Furthermore, the case study of Eram Street in Shiraz reveals that the absence of local regulations and appropriate spatial planning has contributed to conflicts among different groups of public space users, diminished feelings of safety and comfort among certain citizens, and restricted equal access to and enjoyment of public spaces. Accordingly, the study argues that the management of dog walking requires the integration of legal regulation with spatial planning and design. The formulation of clear local regulations, the provision of designated spaces for dog walking, and the development of educational
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