For most families, the addition of a furry friend makes the family feel complete. For kids, owning a pet is like a rite of passage. It teaches them about responsibilities and compassion, and there is growing evidence that having a pet in the house can help babies grow up with a stronger immune system.
While some expats bring their fur-babies to Beijing from their home countries, there are plenty of us who made the decision to expand our families after we’ve moved. But before you get caught up looking at cute puppy videos online as research on your new furry family member, be sure to get acquainted with the details on pet ownership laws in Beijing.
Buy or Adopt?
This one’s easy: always adopt if you can! Give a pup or kitten a second chance and a fur-ever home that they deserve. International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS) has many animals who are in need of a loving home. These pets have already received their shots and ICVS will continue to provide financial help during checkups for pet owners of adopted pets. If you’re specifically looking to adopt a puppy, you can also contact Lost Puppies of Beijing (WeChat ID: lostpuppies), an association that rescues and fosters stray puppies before finding new loving homes for them.
Registration
Not all pets need to be registered in Beijing, only dogs, so if you have a cat, you’re in the clear. Beijing law states that all dog owners in the capital are required to register their pets annually with the Public Security Bureau (PSB), or have their pets automatically be considered stray and subject to confiscation. Under normal circumstances, the registration period runs May 1 and Jun 30, regardless of when the dog was initially registered. Registration costs RMB 500. This year, due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 the city has extended dog registration period to Dec 31.
A Question of Breeding
Beijing has a long and complicated history with dogs, probably due to historically high rates of rabies. Therefore, ‘large’ and ‘aggressive’ dogs may not be kept within many city districts. Such dogs are defined as those whose height exceeds 35cm, measured from the shoulder. The PSB website offers a helpful list of larger and banned breeds, such as Tibetan mastiff, Dobermann, greyhound, chow chow, and akita, among others.
Exotic Tastes
If you’ve watched the Netflix blockbuster series Tiger King recently you may be disappointed to learn that there are definitely no pet tigers in Beijing. The most common pets in Beijing are dogs and cats, although you’ll see the occasional bunny, bird, ferret, hamster, or tropical fish. The main barrier to owning any animal other than a cat or dog in Beijing is that due to Chinese law, you won’t be able to take them out of the country when you decide to move. Many exotic animals have surprisingly long lifespans, which can easily exceed the standard work contract in Beijing. Be responsible when you’re considering expanding your family, and think about your long term relocation plan… are you sure you’ll still want that cute chinchilla in twenty years’ time?
Lifestyle and Habits
Before falling head over heels with one particular pet, think about your lifestyle in Beijing. Are you a homebody, or do you like to go out and explore? How old are your children? Do you or your partner frequently work overtime? Do you like to spend your weekends out with friends, and do overnight stays? Different types of pets require different levels of commitment and if you’re going to make them a member of your family, think about what needs they have and if you can realistically provide that for them.
Bye-Bye Beijing
It’s worth saying again: according to Chinese law, the only animals that can be legally taken out of the country are cats and dogs. Even for these two animals, sending a pet abroad is a lengthy process that should be begun as many as up eight months prior to the move depending on which country you’re moving to. The process can be a headache for many people but thankfully places like ICVS, Doctors Beck and Stone, and Globy Pet Relocation offers regular classes on how to relocate with your pets as well as relocation services. But whatever you do, don’t wait until the last minute to start inquiring. Vaccinations and health certificates take time and you don’t want have to choose between delaying your departure or leaving Fido behind.
Useful Services
北京新天地国际动物医院3-16 Rongke Ganlan Chengshang Jie, Futongxi Dajie, Wangjing, Chaoyang 朝阳区望京阜通西大街 融科橄榄城商街13-16号Tel: 8456 1939思威（北京）国际动物医院Unit 104, Tower B, Bldg 3, Hou Xiandai Cheng, Baiziwan Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区百子湾路后现代城3栋B座104底商Tel: 8774 8653Rm 26B, Block 2, Bauhinia Court, 30 Dongsanhuan Beilu,Chaoyang 朝阳区东三环北路30号紫荆豪庭2座26BTel: 8762 5020
KEEP READING: Doggone it! How Owning a Pet Could Affect Your Health
Photos: Unsplash
This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 June issue
