Dog owners beware: dog regulations in Beijing are going to be strictly enforced over the next month. While these are not new rules, they are typically only enforced during dog-catching season or if there is an issue, such as a neighbor’s complaint or if someone gets bitten. With the People’s Republic of China gearing up for its 70th anniversary celebrations, the focus of September is cleaning up the city and improving the quality of life.
From September 1 – October 1 key areas around Beijing are going to be subject to strict enforcement of current dog ownership laws. The areas that are going to experience the biggest crackdown are Haidian, Fengtai, Chaoyang, and Shijingshan, but there are eight districts in Beijing that are subject to these laws. It is your responsibility to know the laws, but this can be a challenge because they change from district to district and sometimes even day to day. But here are the two most important rules to know:
1. You must register your dog (here is a how-to on registering).
2. Your dog needs to be under 35cm (this is measured from the ground to the shoulder). Get out your measuring tape!
Another useful rule to know is the banned breed list. If you are complying with the size rule, then these breeds are already too big when fully grown, but there are specific laws forbidding these breeds from being kept in Beijing.
Dogs are taken every day in the city by police, for a variety of reasons, and getting them back ranges from difficult to impossible. During September any medium- or large-sized dog can be confiscated, even if they are registered. These dogs will not be returned. If you have a dog that is over the 35cm limit, you should consider options for getting your dog out of the city.
There are some options available for keeping your dog safe. Consider having someone who lives outside of the city babysit your dog. Board them at one of the many boarding facilities around Beijing. If these are not options for you, you can consider keeping your dog inside for the month, possibly going out very late at night (after 11pm or later) or very early in the morning (before 5am). You must keep your dog quiet if you choose this option. Police may come to your door if a neighbor reports the noise.
The dog registration period was May 1 – June 30; it usually falls around these dates every year. If your dog is outside of the size limits or a banned breed, registration will not help, but if your dog is on the edge of being too big or is the correct size, this is a must for you. Without this registration, your dog can be seized at any time without reason. The dog registration period has ended, but many police stations will still register dogs throughout the year; it just takes more persistence on the owner’s part. If you ask and they say no, try again another day with a new person. Remember registration must be renewed every year.
Keep your precious pooches safe, everybody.
Photos: Jenn, Pixabay
