A city that plans a ruthless purge of pet dogs announced a stay of execution while it seeks out more opinions from its 4.4 million population about the rabid canine cull.

The Guangdong Province prefecture-level city of Jiangmen announced on Thursday a ban on all dogs – wild and pet – from urban public spaces in three districts, ruling that as-yet-undefined "illegally raised dogs" would be confiscated or killed from August 26.

The move was to "prevent and control rabies, maintain public order and sanitation, and create a sound environment for the people," the Jiangmen Daily reported. Rabies killed 42 people between 2008 and 2010, with 12,014 people injured by dogs in Pengjiang, Jianghai and Xinhui districts, according to Jiangmen government statistics.

Instead of destroying their pets, the government would now advise owners to "resettle" their dogs outside the restricted areas, the new government statement said. The move represented a step back from a regulation drafted by five city government bodies ruling all dogs be seized or killed.

"Civilized law enforcement is a must for us," a Jiangmen government press officer who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday. "But if dog owners ignore warnings in serious cases, we will take special measures."

More than 100 dog owners held a meeting on Wednesday to discuss how to protect their dogs from being seized or killed by the city government.

It wasn't a successful meeting, a participant told the Global Times on Wednesday, failing to achieve any consensus.

"Too many people gathered in the hotel, divided by reporters coming for interview," he said, "and we also felt some pressure from outside."

Most people at the meeting had been confused about the vague wording of the regulation and wondered whether it was really directed against all pet dogs in Jiangmen, explained the owner, who requested anonymity.

"Most of us have deep affection for our lovely dogs. It's unfair to kill all dogs seen in public places," he said. "It shows no respect for life."