Important Rules Regarding Pet Ownership in the Capital
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Pet ownership, like many other fairly innocuous things in the West, is highly regulated in China. There's a recent historical precedent for this. For a decade, from 1983 to 1993, private dog ownership was banned outright throughout China due to rampant cases of rabies, many of which were fatal. China is still considered to have some of the highest number of rabies transmissions worldwide. Due to these understandable concerns, it's important to stay on top of local and national rules regarding pet ownership, which can change quickly.
Don't buy or adopt a pet without knowing if that pet is even allowed to be owned in China. Even animals sold in pet shops are sometimes illegal to own. Never buy endangered or trafficked animals, no matter how adorable. Be smart.
For doggos, only one is allowed to be registered per household. Dogs aren't registered to an individual, but to an address. If you own more than one dog, this can be a challenge. Although many people with more than one dog register them at a petless friend's address, it's not something we would recommend.
Beijing has no specific list of forbidden breeds, but dogs of a "large size (or) aggressive breeds" are not allowed inside the six central districts of Chaoyang, Dongcheng, Xicheng, Haidian, Fengtai, and Shijingshan. Size-wise, any dogs within these districts must be small. A frequently cited measurement for an adult dog is under 35cm from ground to shoulder.
Please note that rules in China are frequently updated or can be abruptly altered. For example, in the coastal city of Qingdao, a recent "one dog policy" has even been enacted with 40 "dangerous breeds" simply banned altogether, and stricter rules can always make their way to the capital.
Make sure to check with a veterinarian about up-to-date rules regarding allowed dog breeds and exotic pets. The International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS) is considered one of Beijing's most trusted sources for all things pet related.
Next, register your dog at the correct police station for your area. Usually, this is the same station you'd go to for registering yourself and family when you enter China. Bring your passport, your apartment lease, rabies vaccination certificate, and two identical photos of your dog.
Remember that an annual renewal of your pup's registration is required. All Beijing dog licenses expire yearly on April 30th, and the annual dog registration periods begin May 1st and ends June 30th. Sometimes free rabies vaccinations are available during these times, so check with your vet.
Cat owners don't need to register their felines, unless you plan to teach them how to walk on a leash. (We've heard this is an uphill battle.)
Unfortunately, this government reaction is possibly due to a few high profile dog attacks in recent years. A case of a few rotten apples spoiling the barrel. We hope this can spark the creation of new dog-friendly private parks, but in the meanwhile, if your apartment has a shared garden or there is light traffic and wide sidewalks around your home, this will work fine for daily dog walks.
Remember to always leash your dog when out in public; no exceptions.
Depending on where you're moving to, it can take as little as four months of prep to the E.U. and as much as eight months or more to Australia. Some dog breeds or exotic pets are banned or restricted in some locations, so, like anything in life, it's best to do research beforehand. Again, here, ICVS is an invaluable resource and holds regular talks on importing and exiting China with pets. Check out their website (icvsasia.com) for more info so that you are not in the dark or forced to go into this lengthy process alone.
This post originally appeared in our sister publication, beijingkids.
READ: Beijing Pet-iquette: Tips on Responsible Pet Ownership in the Capital
Photos: Adobe stock, sohu.com
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