(CN) Stray dogs on increase in Zhengzhou

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Stray dogs on increase in Zhengzhou

August 31, 2007

 

More stray dogs are expected to be on the streets in

downtown Zhengzhou, Henan Province, when a new

regulation on pets takes effect on October 1.

 

It forbids the keeping of large dogs and only one dog

per household will be allowed.

 

" Fewer than one out of 100 dogs are licensed in

Zhengzhou, " Ye Hong, head of the Pet Protection

Society of Zhengzhou, told China Daily.

 

" The old regulation required 3,000 yuan ($400) for a

dog license, and an annual payment of 500 yuan. It was

too expensive, even higher than that of Beijing, " she

said.

 

Police take away unlicensed dogs and send them to the

zoo. If no one claims them within a week, rumor has it

" they are fed to the lions and tigers " .

 

" This may not be true, but the police have never made

public how they deal with the dogs, " Ye said.

 

She has rescued about 300 strays in the past four

years. " Lately I have been receiving more phone calls

asking me to accept more stray dogs, but few requests

to adopt some of my dogs. "

 

Ye has more than 20 dogs. A staff member with the

Zhengzhou municipality surnamed Li told her that such

animal shelters can only be built in the suburbs.

 

" I won't be able to take care of them if the dogs are

moved to the suburbs, " Ye said. The Pet Protection

Society from time to time receives donations from the

public to help carry out its work.

 

Ye, a vet, treats sick dogs for free if the owner is

unable to pay.

 

Most of the society's income is used toward the rescue

of strays, Ye said. " The food doesn't cost much, but

when dogs are sick, the expense is high. "

 

In a bid to cut costs, she uses traditional Chinese

medicine to treat skin diseases of dogs. " The results

have been remarkable, " she said.

 

Zhengzhou-based Business News quoted a staff member of

the city's legislation department, Wang Zhihong, as

saying the department plans to train policemen to

catch dogs.

 

If police receive complaints about stray dogs, they

will be caught and placed in a warehouse or

underground parking lot for two weeks. If they are not

claimed, the dogs will be sent to the zoo, Wang said.

 

Zhengzhou public amenities administration official,

Zhang Xin'an, said he had no information about stray

dogs being sent to the zoo.

 

" The zoo is not a dog-keeping facility, it can't be

turned into a kennel, " he said.

 

Source: China Daily

 

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/6252048.html

 

 

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