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A Saint Bernard is being combed at a beauty parlour for pets. Although the dog's size is awe-inspiring, it is said to be very good-natured and gets along well even with small children. |
APRIL 30 will be the deadline for local residents to apply for dog licenses, police announced.
Currently, about 50,000 dogs have been registered in the city, including 10,000 in the urban area. Yet it is estimated that there are as many as 500,000 unregistered dogs throughout the city.
Although people raise different kinds of animals as pets, including cats and birds, the focus is on dogs. These animals are seen as potentially dangerous due to possible problems with attacks and rabies.
Early in 1993, a related regulation on raising dogs was enforced, and further amended in 1997.
The regulation clearly stipulates that those who raise, breed and sell dogs must obtain licenses. Only after acquiring permission, can dogs be raised for performance, security or companionship, and each household is only allowed to keep one dog. Moreover, dogs are forbidden in public without first undergoing an official health examination. Violators face fines ranging up to 30,000 yuan ($3,628).
Yet, many turn a deaf ear to the regulation. Peddlers can be frequently found selling puppies along the roadside, and pet dogs without licenses can easily be spotted in living quarters, streets, parks and even on buses.
These animals have become an embarrassment to the police in charge of this issue, who declined to be interviewed about such a "sensitive" topic.
"Last year, some news reports about this issue copied items from the regulations, which resulted in many complaints, and put too much pressure on our work," said an anonymous source from the police department.
Although pets bring enjoyment to people, in the eyes of the police, too many dogs have a negative impact on the city.
"The number of dogs should be under control," the source said. "If we just issued licenses to everyone with a dog, the number of dogs in the city may increase."
However, the number did increased, especially among unlicenced dogs.
Not only Shanghai, but also other cities, such as Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province have launched dog-catching campaigns.
Last autumn, local authorities made great achievements in their strike against stray dogs and owners walking dogs in some neighbourhoods.
However, police met with opposition from animal-lovers, who saw the campaign as cruel.
When asked about raising the registration fee to curb the number of dogs in the city, the source forced a smile saying "many consider the current fee too high."
Last week, local authorities held a meeting especially to discuss the pet dog problem. Besides reminding people to apply for licenses, police stressed that those who walk dogs in the public will be fined. If they were found to have been fined for walking their dog twice within a year, their license to raise dogs would be cancelled. Still, police continue to inspect breeders and sellers of dogs around the city.
