January 2008
Here is some basic information gathered by the International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS) from our numerous interviews with police precincts in and around Chaoyang District, including Shunyi:
All dogs are required to be registered by law in Beijing. Owners are strongly advised to REGISTER THEIR DOGS immediately if this has not been done yet. There are ongoing rounds of enforcement by the police. These enforcement rounds are part of the government¡¯s efforts to regulate dog ownership to ensure public health. This latest round of enforcement which began before last year¡¯s national day holidays is expected to last through to the Olympics. The police will be enforcing the dog registration requirements strictly this year.
During these rounds of enforcement, the police will be looking for:
1). All unregistered dogs
2). Large dogs living within 5th ring road
DOG OWNERS WITHIN 5TH RING ROAD
if you live within 5th ring road, you must register your dog at your local police precinct (pai chu suo). Ask your management company or landlord or neighbors which "pai chu suo" oversees your neighborhood.
Each HOUSEHOLD address is allowed to register ONE DOG, usually under 35 cm (this is from ground to shoulder). We have seen dogs that are taller than 35 cm that have still been approved and given registration licenses (e.g., up to 50 cm or more such as Akitas, Beagles, Maltese, Poodles, Cockers, Bichon Frise, Bull dogs, Schnauzers, assorted Terriers, Shelties, etc.). What the police don't want to see are large dogs such as Collies, Dalmatians, Dobermans, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, Irish Setters, Labradors, Landseers, Labradoodles, St. Bernards, Tibetan Mastiffs, etc. These are all classified as large dogs and are not allowed to be owned/registered within the 5th ring road.
OWNERS OF MULTIPLE DOGS LIVING WITHIN 5th RING ROAD
Each dog is registered to a HOUSEHOLD (e.g., lease contract, property deed), NOT an INDIVIDUAL (e.g., passport holder).
If you own two dogs then you may need to find a relative or friend who will permit you to register your second dog using their household address.
For owners who have "large" dogs within 5th ring road, it would be wise to find a relative or friend outside 5th ring road who can help you use their household address to register your dog. Make sure his/her residential compound's management company and/or the local police precinct allow large dogs to be registered.
REGISTRATION PROCESS AT THE PAI CHU SUO (May vary by pai chu suo)
When going to the "pai chu suo," you may need to bring the following:
For initial visit:
1). Your dog - police may want to see the dog on the initial visit, but this seems to depend on each individual "pai chu suo."
2). Two photos of your dog (passport size or slightly smaller). Must be a head shot from the front.
3). Your ID: shen fen zheng, passport, residency permit, foreign household registration document (usually needed to extend your China visa), etc.
4). Your LEASE for your rented apartment or your property title document if you own your home (remember, dogs are registered to the HOUSEHOLD address NOT to the passport of the owner)
5). CASH - Initial registration is RMB 1,000.00. Annual registration renewal afterwards is RMB 500.00
If your dog is NOT YET REGISTERED and you are also planning on neutering/spaying him/her, then you may be entitled to a 50% discount on the initial registration fee if you can show proof to the police station that your dog has been neutered/spayed by a legally registered and licensed ANIMAL HOSPITAL.
The International Center for Veterinary Services is a legally registered and fully licensed animal hospital that is authorized to perform neuter/spay surgeries and provide the official neuter/spay certificates. Owners may present these official neuter/spay certificates as proof to the police station. With these spay/neuter certificates, owners are entitled to receive up to RMB 500.00 discount on the initial registration fee.
Please check with your animal hospital first before scheduling the neuter/spay surgery to ensure that it is legally registered and licensed to perform the surgeries and can provide official certificates. CLINICS are not legally authorized to perform surgeries in Beijing, nor are pet shops and grooming salons staffed with the occasional vet. The police may not give you the discount if you cannot produce an official spay/neuter certificate.
6). Depending on the pai chu suo, you would normally get your dog's "picture ID registration card" within the same week.
DOG OWNERS LIVING OUTSIDE 5th RING ROAD
Many dog owners outside of 5th ring road, especially in the Shunyi villa areas, may be able to turn to their management companies to help get their dogs registered or at least obtain guidance on the process. The regulations for owning and registering dogs are different from those within 5th ring road.
Many of the villa operators have negotiated with local police precincts to allow their residents to register dogs (especially large dogs) to the villa compound. There is still a registration process and fees involved. Please contact your property management agent or landlord if you live outside the 5th ring road and are unsure about how to register your dog.
Please be advised that there may be some residential compounds technically OUTSIDE 5th ring road that still do not allow large dogs. Please ask the management companies or even the local police precinct overseeing the area to verify if large dogs are allowed. It would be unfortunate to sign a lease and then find out you cannot register your large dog in these areas.
CAT REGISTRATION
Cats and their owners may all breathe a collective sigh of relief knowing that there is NO CAT REGISTRATION requirement in Beijing (for now!)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND ADVICE REGARDING YOUR PETS
Please give the International Center for Veterinary Services a call if you have any questions on registration, exiting the country with your pets, and healthcare issues. The hospital's contact information and NEW e-mail address are listed below.
Best wishes for a safe and healthy Year of the Rat for all members of your family, especially the furry ones!
International Center for Veterinary Services
Kent Center, No. 29 Liang Ma Qiao Road, An Jia Lou
Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100016
Tel: 8610-8456-1939/1940/1941
Fax: 8610-6433-2301
E-mail: ICVS_CHINA@yahoo.com
Web site: www.ICVSASIA.com