(CN) Pet laws face amendments (Shanghai)

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(CN)Pet laws face amendments

Yang Lifei and Zou Qi

Shangai Daily

2006-11-20

 

NEW rules on veterinary clinics that go into effect on January 1 will place

restrictions on the size and location of pet clinics in the city.

 

The regulations state that all veterinary clinics must be more than 100 square

meters in size and can't be near hospitals, schools, restaurants or other

crowded venues.

 

The Shanghai Pet Medical Treatment Administrative Regulations also state that

every pet clinic must be equipped to handle disinfections, examinations and

laboratory tests. In addition, each clinic must have at least two registered

veterinary surgeons on staff. Clinics must also have two permits, the Animal

Epidemic Prevention Certificate and Animal Medical Treatment Permit.

 

Currently, there are 72 legal pet hospitals or clinics in Shanghai, but industry

officials say there are far more unregistered clinics doing business in the

city.

 

Police in the city began a survey at the start of this year to see what changes

are needed to the Shanghai Canine Administrative Rules, laws on dog raising that

went into effect in 1993. The survey is being conducted in response to a growing

number of pet-related disputes in the city, according to police.

 

" The survey was launched early this year, but it is still unclear when a new set

of policies will be worked out, " said an official with the Shanghai Public

Security Bureau's canine administrative agency. Any amendments to the current

law would need approval from the Shanghai People's Congress, the official added.

 

Media reports say the new rules could cover walking dogs in public venues, as

well as the number and breed of dogs local residents are allowed to raise.

 

Currently, dog owners are only allowed to walk their pets in public if they are

taking them to the vet, although that rule is all but ignored by most dog owners

in the city.

 

Shanghai has no rules at present on the number of dogs a family can raise,

although Beijing recently imposed a one-dog-per-family policy.

 

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/art/2006/11/20/297510/Pet_laws_face_amendments.htm