Attention all dog owners: Annual registration begins next month

Photo: @beyondxphotography/Unsplash.com

Avoid woof justice with these top tips on owning a pooch in Beijing.

Have a dog in Beijing? Did you know that all dogs have to be registered by law? We're not trying to throw those of you with a hairy family member into panic mode, but the notoriously tough annual push for dog registration is going to start in May.

Canines without proper documentation run the risk of being classed as strays and confiscated by the PSB, so for the love of all that is furry, if you're a dog owner – new or old – you have until June 30 to make sure your dog is registered so that you can remain its (rightful) owner and continue taking it for those lovely walks around the hutongs.

Early registration is strongly recommended, since a crackdown usually takes place around the end of May, with randoms checks being carried out on pet owners and their dogs. You could have your pet taken away if you don't have a valid licence. To avoid all the hassle, register before the checks begin, i.e. now.

Photo: @leonardolaprano/Unsplash.com

Here is the basic information you need to get your dog a licence from your local public security bureau (pai chu suo):

- your dog

- an official rabies vaccination book with proof of a rabies vaccination having been given in the last 12 months

- your passport or ID, and foreigner household registration document

- two headshots of your dog (one-inch passport sized) on a white background

-your lease for your rented apartment or your property title paper if you're a homeowner

- a registration fee of 1,000RMB (cash) for first-time registration, or 500RMB for annual renewal. This applies to the central eight districts of Beijing: Chaoyang, Dongcheng, Xicheng, Chongwen, Xuanwu, Haidian, Fengtai, and Shijingshan

- the official spay/neuter certificate from your animal hospital, which could get you a discount of up to 50% off the licence fee, if you present it at the public security bureau

Once you're all done you'll get a lovely registration card like the one below.

Photo: ICVS

Don't worry, the card isn't only for weirdly fluffy pups. On the other side, they'll list all the crucial information about you and your dog (name pandering to the Chinese authorities optional).

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