Beijing dog registrations up

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Beijing sees rise in dog registrations

Xin Dingding

China Daily

2006-05-29

 

Dog registration is on the up in Beijing, with ID

cards being issued for more than 320,000 of the

capital's pet pooches so far this year.

 

This represents a year-on-year rise of almost 40 per

cent in Beijing's dog registrations, according to the

Beijing News.

 

Official statistics showed that a mere 137,000 of the

capital's million-strong dog population were

registered in 2002, a number that has increased every

year since, reaching 458,000 in 2005.

 

Why have so many more of the capital's dog lovers

decided to register their prized pets? The answer is

simple it's cheaper.

 

In 2003, the capital's legislature, the Beijing

Municipal People's Congress, endorsed a new set of

regulations related to dog ownership.

 

The new rules cut the initial registration fee for a

dog from the hefty 5,000 yuan (US$625) set in 1994, to

a more affordable 1,000 yuan (US$125).

 

Retiree Gao Jingying, who has a monthly income of less

than 2,000 yuan (US$250), said that she could now

register her dog.

 

" It is quite significant for people like me, " said

Gao.

 

Unwilling to fork out the 5,000 yuan registration fee,

Gao sent her pride and joy away in 2001 to stay with

friends in the countryside.

 

Now she can afford the fee, Gao has registered her dog

with Beijing Public Security Bureau for the past two

years.

 

But it's not just a matter of getting a piece of

paper, registration also means that Gao's dog can

receive annual vaccinations against rabies and a host

of other diseases for a fee of 500 yuan (US$62).

 

But not everyone is as happy about the rules, which

apply in Beijing's eight urban districts.

 

" More and more people are raising dogs in my

community, " said Hong Xianze, 63. " Every time I take a

walk after supper, I have to watch carefully in case I

step in dog excrement. "

 

Having heard many people express similar views, Xu

Qin, a member of the Beijing Committee of the Chinese

People's Political Consultative Conference, has called

for a new regulation on raising pets.

 

" I am not against raising pets, but it should not

affect other people's lives, " remarked Xu.

 

The current rules forbid people in downtown Beijing

from owning dogs taller than 35 centimetres and

walking them in parks and other public places. Dog

owners are also required to clean up after their pets.

 

Xu pointed out that although many people flout these

rules, few are punished.

 

" I often see people walking huge dogs, with many

people being forced to step out of their way, " said

Hong. " But I have never heard of anyone being fined

for this. "

 

Xu has received a reply from the municipal

agricultural bureau, which said efforts would be made

to put the regulation on the city's legislative agenda

as soon as possible.

 

Xu warned that until such a regulation is on the

city's statute book, dogs could be a source of

friction between neighbours and result in dirtier

neighbourhoods.

 

(China Daily 05/29/2006 page5)

 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2006-05/29/content_602126.htm

--------------

Beijinger bitten by a man and his dog

(Xinhua)

2006-06-03

 

A man in Beijing has been awarded nearly 1,000 U.S.

dollars in compensation after being bitten by a dog -

and the dog's owner.

 

On November 2004, the victim, surnamed Huo, became

involved in an argument with a man surnamed Liu after

his left leg was bitten by Liu's dog, the Beijing

Municipal No. 2 Intermediate People's Court heard on

Friday.

 

A fight ensued in which Liu bit Huo's left cheek,

leaving a two-cm-long rip.

 

Huo sued Liu last September.

 

Liu was ordered to pay Huo 7,500 yuan (937.5 U.S.

dollars) in compensation, according to the court

judgement.

 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-06/03/content_607813.htm

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Abandoned dog waits for owner

(China Daily)

Updated: 2006-04-28 08:49

 

A dog waited outside a supermarket for its owner for

hours in Chongqing Municipality.

 

Shop assistants said the dog was left outside the

supermarket in the morning by several people. Several

hours later the dog was still waiting alone in the

same place. Passers-by fed the dog and wanted to adopt

it.

 

Shop assistants have been looking after the dog

temporarily and urge the owners to return and collect

their pet.

 

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-04/28/content_579224.htm

 

 

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