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

International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS) 

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

Doctors Beck and Stone Health Care Center 

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 8653

Globy Pet Relocation

Rm 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26B

Tel: 8762 5020

One of the hardest negotiations I ever had to do as a child was trying to convince my mom to get me a pet. I absolutely loved furry creatures, but my mom was less enamored by them. As a poor alternative, she got me a bike. That didn’t stop me from petting stray dogs, spending as much time as I could with cats and dogs owned by my relatives, and praying that one day my mom’s allergies to fur would disappear, and on that day, she would finally say yes to a cat, at the very least.

My desire for a furry pal is far from unique. The Internet is replete with adorable reaction videos of kids getting their first puppy, of family cats and dogs watching over newborn babies, gently licking and cuddling them, and raucous play with their little human buddies. It is the desire of many parents to have their kids grow up with at least one pet in the house. And in most cases, parents have few to no reservations about getting pets for their kids.

I’m all ears

But in China, the decision to own a pet, especially in a house with a young child or expectant mother, isn’t quite as easy. There is a long-held belief of household pets being potentially harmful to the health of the expectant mother or infant. This belief leads many pet owners to make the difficult decision of relinquishing ownership of their pets, even before the baby arrives. Simply put, when a child comes into the picture, the family pet must exit stage left.

But is this belief entirely irrational and unfounded? Or do those who still cling on to this belief have legitimate claim to their fears?

Obstetricians and pediatricians in China often advise parents to get rid of pets in anticipation of a newborn. Coming from medical professionals, this is a piece of advice parents are likely to take to heart. The common fear is pets might transmit zoonotic diseases to their owners. Dispelling this fear, however, does little to comfort pet owners as they are faced with worrying statistics which might make them think twice about having their furry friends around expectant mothers and young children.

China ranks second according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in terms of rabies fatalities annually, with about 2,000 to 3,000 deaths reported. On average 95% of these deaths are linked to exposure to dogs. Moreover, 50% of all global rabies-related deaths are children under the age of 15.

Who’s a good boy?

Such statistics might be a cause of worry for parents with young children. Kids are impetuous by nature and might treat animals in a way likely to result in injury. They are far more likely to rough-house with their beloved furry companions or even startle them. They are also unable to gauge when their furry pets are no longer in a playful mood. All this might cause an animal to bite or nick the child. Afterward, fearing punishment, children might not tell their parents about an animal attack, however minor or severe. And when their parents find out, it might already be too late.

There is also the less worrying, but no less serious possibility of allergies. Kids could also suffer from allergic reactions, although studies have shown early exposure to animals could build up immunity in the child and reduce the risk of these reactions from occurring. There are also hygienic concerns. Toddlers and young children are not fastidious about the surfaces they play on or putting foreign objects into their mouths. As such, kids can touch or pick up animal waste and ingest it without their parents being aware. They are also prone to putting their hands in their mouths and could do so after they have come in contact with a contaminated surface. Parents keeping a close eye on their kids when playing with animals and ensuring they wash their hands thoroughly after play could help avoid bites, nips, and chances of ingesting animal waste. But for some parents, the risks far outweigh the efficacy of preventative measures.

Here kitty, kitty, kitty

As far as parasitic diseases, toxoplasmosis is of great concern, especially for pregnant women. Toxoplasmosis can have harmful effects on the growing fetus, and can also pose a serious health risk to immunocompromised individuals. Cats are the main carriers of this protozoan parasite. They pick it up from eating infected prey or ingesting contaminated soil. It is, however, far more likely for humans to get toxoplasmosis through other means, such as eating undercooked meat, unwashed vegetables, or also coming in contact with contaminated soil. Toxoplasmosis can also be ruled out as a threat from cats by performing a simple blood test. Other practices such as thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables, cooking meat, wearing gloves when gardening, not feeding your cat raw meat, and cleaning out litter boxes daily while wearing gloves are fairly effective in reducing the risk of toxoplasmosis infections.

There is also a widely held misconception of non-furry animals being a safer option to humans than their furry counterparts. However, humans still run the risk of contracting salmonella from frogs, turtles, and other reptiles. These animals can also have parasites that can be passed on to humans.

There are no set protocols for those who wish to relinquish their pets due to health or other concerns. The usual course of action is for pet owners to pass pets on to relatives or close friends, and in other cases, give them up to animal shelters. If the abandoned animals are older, they are less likely to get adopted. Prospective families with children tend to prefer puppies and kittens. To counter any misinformation, there are various activism projects throughout the country teaching both children and adults about responsible pet ownership, and how to keep their furry friends and themselves safe and happy.

Keeping up to date with vaccines is essential in preventing possible infections and infestations in animals. Admittedly, training a pet could take a long time, but it is well worth the effort. They are far easier to handle and are less likely to cause injury to young children. Keeping the house clean is the final component of the recipe for successful pet ownership. Disinfecting surfaces, emptying litter trays, washing your and your children’s hands after playing with the pet, and making sure the litter is disposed of using gloves and away from the family compound will go a long way in reducing animal to human cross-contamination.

We need to remind ourselves why it is so easy to fall in love with our animal companions, whether furry or otherwise. They provide unconditional love, encourage us to keep active, and are an endless source of entertainment. Medically, owning a pet has been shown to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body. They can be a fantastic tool to teach children non-verbal cues when children learn to meet the needs of animals that cannot speak. And ultimately, when a beloved pet dies, this offers parents a wonderful opportunity to teach children about the cycle of life and death. Granted, pets can be incredibly demanding, messy and need constant care, but they can also be immense sources of joy. Dogs can live well beyond 17 years, while cats can hit up to 20 years, so owning a pet is a life-long commitment, but one well worth pursuing.

KEEP READING: Beijing Pet Sitting Services You Can Trust 

Source: Veterinary information in this article was provided by Dr. Anna Gazdag, ICVS Foreign Consultant Veterinarian, Dr. Cao Yuan Zhao, ICVS Veterinary Surgeon, Mary Peng, CEO and Founder, ICVS Animal Hospital ICVS Beijing. If you need any information regarding animal health, vaccination and animal export requirements, then visit www.ICVSASIA.com

Photos: Unsplash

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 May issue

Beijingkids has been an essential family resource for Beijing international families since 2006. And just as kids grow up in the blink of an eye, Beijing has grown and changed almost beyond recognition in that time. In Throwback Thursday we jump in the time machine, traveling through our 14 year-strong blog archives to dig out the most entertaining, fascinating, and thought-provoking stories for your reading pleasure. Ready? Let’s go…

With the mercury rising up into the mid ’30s, it feels like the dog days of summer are already upon us. But this week’s throwback is dog-themed for all the wrong reasons. Back in June 2011, we reported on a spate of suspected dog poisoning that had occurred in Capital Paradise, a community in Shunyi.

According to the article, more than twenty dogs may have died in quick succession, and while they presented symptoms similar to that of rabies – agitated running, strange barking, salivating, and vomiting to cramping and running a high temperature – at least one of the dogs was vaccinated against the common disease making it extremely likely that they were deliberately killed.

Unfortunately, this 2011 incident was neither the first or last time that groups of dogs were killed in such a way in the capital. As our sister site the Beijinger reported in 2018, there have been deadly dog poisoning attacks like these on a pretty regular basis since at least 2005.

For best results, we recommend bringing your dog to all our events

China has a complicated relationship with dogs, largely because it has the second-highest number of reported rabies cases in the world. In Beijing alone, 27 victims died from rabies in attacks by non-vaccinated dogs between 2014 and 2016, according to Beijing Ditan Hospital. In the 1980’s, on some 5,000 people died from rabies per year across the country, and although those numbers have fallen dramatically, the association between dogs and this deadly disease still lingers.

However, change is on the horizon as Beijing’s middle class chose to keep dogs as pets in increasing numbers, normalizing the sight of big fluffy canines wandering the streets. Furthermore, as of Apr 8 this year, dogs are now officially recognized as pets in China, thanks to legislation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in a move designed to change their classification from livestock to pets. Even the culinary practice of eating dogs has been declining in popularity in China in recent years, with Shenzhen becoming the first city in China to officially ban it outright.

For now, we recommend all pet owners to ensure their pets are up to date on their vaccinations, are properly registered at the PSB on an annual basis (this year’s registration window has been extended to Dec 31), and are kept on a leash in all public areas.

You can read the original article in its entirety here.

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