(CN) Is It Necessary to Sterilize Stray Dogs?

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Is It Necessary to Sterilize Stray Dogs?

CRIENGLISH.com

By He Fei

2006-11-12

 

Considered " man's best friend, " dogs are kept as pets by many people. But

without effective control, they can also become problems in society.

 

The Beijing News reports that in just the first half of this year, 70,000 people

in Beijing reported being bitten or scratched by dogs, and had to get rabies

vaccines. The Ministry of Health reported more than 2000 rabies cases nationwide

in the first nine months of the year, up 30 percent over the same period last

year.

 

According to the Beijing Association of Small Animal Protection, there are over

a million dogs in Beijing now, including stray street dogs. The Beijing News

says that many citizens call for the government to give free sterilization

operations to stray dogs to control their numbers. They also hope that dog

owners will voluntarily bring their pets to do the sterilization operation.

 

But some people, especially some dog owners, think it is not humane since any

being has the right to breed. The paper quotes pet doctors as saying the

operation is good for dogs and it is the most effective way to control the

number of stray dogs in big cities.

 

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