Hui’s Sanctuary and the rescue pups who call it home have had a ruff year (pun intended!). As many of you remember, earlier this summer the original shelter was demolished and a call to find homes for 180 animals was enthusiastically answered by the community. The dogs, who mostly couldn’t find homes because of their size, seemed to be in luck when a second location was found, and the shelter invested a great deal of money into making it a puppy paradise with large clean kennels and lots of space to run around in. But paradise is close to being lost. A series of noise complaints has forced the animals out of the shelter until soundproofing can be installed. So once again these animals need your help!

There are currently approximately 40 animals, including a litter of beautiful husky pups, in need of good homes, and the shelter needs to raise funds for soundproofing so they can get the animals back to safety and warmth before the worst of winter hits.

Here are just a few of the sweet dogs looking for their new best friend:

Hu Niu is a friendly, cute, docile, and adorable girl-husky. She loves people, playing, and treats.

Pang Hu is an 8-month-old boy who is very, very energetic! Naughty like a young puppy should be, but also very friendly, he loves playing and running around.

Hu Xiaonian is an elderly bulldog. She is just adorable, and loves belly rubs, chewing on ropes and toys, and laying on her back.

Wu Qi is a very smart boy who’s young and energetic. Although he is big, he’s gentle and well trained.

Huhu (Tiger) is a goofy, friendly dog. He loves and needs to run a lot to exercise his legs.

If you are interested and able to adopt, please add Polly at the QR Code below for more information.

If you can’t adopt but still want to help, please consider a donation to assist with the sanctuary’s soundproofing renovations.

Images: Hui’s Sanctuary

KEEP READING: A Home For Christmas for Pups

Even though the onset of COVID-19 didn’t deter many Beijing expat families from weathering the storm in China, some families decided it was in their best interest to leave the country, if only for a spell. However such families and individuals with pets continue to find themselves in a tough position, and the difficulty of trying to leave the country with their pet, on such short notice no less, has come as quite a shock.

Because of this, some pet owners in Beijing and the rest of China have been forced to abandon their pets or give them up for adoption. The situation has been further complicated by misinformation spread at the beginning of the outbreak, claiming that pets might be carriers of the coronavirus strain which affects humans. It is often difficult to find pet export information within China and many-a pet owners have no clue where to start with the process of sending their pets back home.

But Globy Pet and Animal Relocation are in the business of ensuring you are not only well informed about the process and your options, but also the safe repatriation of your ‘furkid’ and a guaranteed happy reunion on the other side.

We spoke with members of Globy’s staff to get the ins and outs of flying your fur-baby home.

Tell us a little bit about your company. When did you start, why, and how long have you been in business?

Globy Pet Relocation was established in 2001 and we have offices in Shanghai (headquarters), Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. We provide pet and animal shipping services around the world. Our typical service includes detailed route planning, international airline arrangement, and door delivery. We strive to provide a hassle-free service to all our clients.

We are also proud members of the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) and Animal Transportation Association (ATA). We’ve also had seats on the board of directors and memberships and accreditation at the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA), an international trade association of animal handlers, pet moving providers, kennel operators, veterinarians and others who are dedicated to the care and welfare of pets and small animals during transport locally, nationwide and worldwide.

We are also a past member of the board of directors at the Animal Transportation Association (ATA), a non-profit association dedicated to the safe and humane transportation of animals worldwide. As members of ATA, we subscribe to its policies and agree that our first consideration is the safe, humane, and expeditious handling of any animals under our care.

What are some of the most common destinations that your company services?

The most common destination for us would be European countries, Canada, and the United States. Nevertheless, Globy also covers many other countries and regions.

What are some destinations your company services that clients might not know about?

We send animals to some very difficult countries like Australia, New Zealand, Mauritius, and Taiwan. Meanwhile, as an IPATA member, we help clients apply for quarantine space, import permits, and transit permits in destination countries or regions.

What are some of the new regulations around exporting pets from China?

With the recent developments, it is now mandatory that all pets are microchipped. Dogs should have a valid registration ID for export. Aside from that, cats and dogs should have their rabies vaccination and canine/feline vaccination up to date at all times.

Before a client decides to take their pet abroad, what are some of the things they must do before they contact you?

Pet relocation can be a lengthy process and it is best that pet owners touch base with us early. Globy will advise pet owners of the export guidelines, destination country’s requirements, and fees. With this information, the client can prepare their pets ahead of time and carefully plan their route, timing, and budget.

What is the process of exporting pets, step by step?

For pet export in China, guidelines are as follows:

1. Pet owner’s original passport and departure air ticket
2. Pet’s microchip
3. Pet’s original vaccination record, which includes annual rabies vaccination (more than 30 days, but less than one year prior to departure). These vaccinations must be issued by an approved vet.
4. Original Health Certificate
5. Export permit for cargo shipment
6. Valid dog registration ID

As for the destination country’s requirements, it will largely differ. It is best to discuss with the company you hire to relocate your pet, whoever they may be, to obtain the latest country’s rules and regulations as they are subject to change without notice. Your agent should be advising you on the best transportation method suited for your pet’s condition, approved travel crates, and work on a budget that you are comfortable with.

With the current Coronavirus outbreak in China and other countries, it might make the pet relocation more difficult, as many airlines have suspended their flights. Some countries have even put a ban on pets from China. With this in mind, it is exceedingly important to plan in advance.

How long does the process take?

The process can be as short as a month and a half for the US and Canada. Countries in the European Union and United Kingdom will take at least four months. Countries like Japan, Australia, and New Zealand will take more than six months to prepare.

What is the price list?

Prices vary greatly depending on the method of transportation, the destination country’s requirements, airline pricing and types of services that you might decide to take up with Globy. Our basic export package starts from RMB 3,000 and it can be up to RMB 40,000 and above for a cargo door-to-door service.

What are some of the problems commonly faced when trying to export pets from China and how do you prevent them from happening?

The most common problem faced is a sudden change in rules and regulations in destination countries or the airline of choice. It is challenging to prevent these events from happening as they are considered as incidentals, factors which we cannot control. However, with our experience and knowledge, Globy can always try to find an alternative route and solution for pet owners when these changes take place. We will always strive to reunite pets with their owners safely.

In view of the recent Coronavirus outbreak, many airlines have imposed an embargo on certain routes/timing and pet breeds. This has brought a lot of stress for pet owners and Globy as well. However, we are constantly updating ourselves with the latest information from airlines to see how we can assist pets leaving China. In some cases, we have even found a silver lining amid the uncertainty.

Are all destination regulations the same or how do they vary?

Every destination country’s requirements could be different. For example, most European Union countries’ requirements look similar, however, in terms of detailed operation it can vary to certain degrees. There will be incidental costs if pet owners don’t do their homework well.

Vaccination requirements by countries will vary as well. As mentioned above, the time to prepare for a trip can be as short as one month to more than six months.

How do potential clients contact you?

Globy has been in China for many years and most of our clients find us through word of mouth. We are also a member of Expat Connections, where foreigners can access quality products and services in Beijing.  We are also active on our WeChat moments, where we share our work and the successful reunion of our furkids.

Photos: Pixabay, memeguy.com, Courtesy of Harriet at Globy Pet Relocation

Taking care of a puppy is no easy task for a first-time pet owner. In 2013, I managed to adopt a rescued dog, had she checked up and vaccinated, helped more stray dogs to find home, and also had myself vaccinated from scratching.

As I plan to leave Beijing for Spring Festival, it’s time to start worrying about boarding for Toffee, my 1-year-old female puppy (although I did joke about leaving her food and water and hoping for the best).

After several phone calls, I was relieved to find that it was not too late to reserve a spot at most vet hospitals. The cost for kennel service tends to fall between RMB 100 and RMB 150 per day around Spring Festival, depending on the size and breed of the animal. 

It is also good to know that all the hospitals I called said they would keep each pet individually, even when they are let out to exercise.

Each pet is expected to have the kennel cough vaccination (RMB 100-150) to prevent respiratory disorders, and one shower (RMB 80-100) or two arranged for their stay. Like ICVS, most hospitals I called also offered free updates with photos of the pet via email every day.

My major concern (and that of many other pet owners) is whether my dog will get used to the new environment, especially being locked in a cage. Most animal hospitals downtown provide all-around service but due to space limitations, animals have to stay in 1m by 1m cages most of the time. For timid animals, especially kittens, this is likely to result in depression.

However, I was surprised to find out that Kang Kang Animal Hospital in Shunyi does not keep their pets in cages. Instead, each animal has a 4sqm room of their own with a 24-hour camera for the owner’s peace of mind.

But considering my dog’s lively and irritable personality, I am still not sure whether I should use a boarding service. Right now, I’m still hoping to find someone who can come to my apartment to feed and spend a little time with her each day. If that doesn’t work out, I will have to choose one of the following kennels.

• International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS): Tue-Sun 9am-8pm, Mon 9am-6pm. 13-16 Rongke Ganlan Chengshang Jie, Futongxi Dajie, Wangjing, Chaoyang District (8456 1939) 朝阳区望京阜通西大街, 融科橄榄城商街13-16号 Click here for price and details of boarding service.
• Beijing Mingshi Dog Industry: Daily 8:30am-5:30pm. 88 Cailang Lu, Caiyu Zhen, Daxing District (8020 1818) 大兴区采育镇采廊路88号 Click here for more about boarding.
• Doctors Beck & Stone: Daily 9am-7pm. Click here for the nearest location and here for more about boarding.
• Kang Kang Animal Hospital: Daily 9am-7pm. 801-802 Pinnacle Plaza, Shunyi District (8046 2358/133-1129-3008) Click here for more about boarding.
• Yi Ya World Veterinarian
  : Daily 8:30am-9pm. 34 Gongti Beilu, near the north gate of Workers Stadium, Chaoyang District (6552 5829) 朝阳区工体北路34号

Photo: Clemence Jiang

• A steady job and stable address
• A family supportive of adoption
• You promise to register the dog
• You agree to get vaccinate the dog and take it to the hospital when it’s sick
• You promise to wait until the animal is old enough before spaying/neutering
• You agree not to leave, discard or pass on the animal, and to keep in touch with its rescuers
• You sign an adoption contract and agree to allow follow-up visit

What’s hairy, red, and eats sea cucumber?

The answer: a 1.5 million dollar dog.

Little Splash, a 11-month Red Tibetan Mastiff, has made record by becoming the world’s most expensive pooch.

And who would pay such an extravagant sum for a dog? A northern Chinese coal baron, of course.

Although the price sounds crazy, the unnamed buyer was quoted saying that the puppy is a good investment. Breeding could turn a high profit, as Little Splash is ‘a perfect specimen’ according to Lu Liang, the dog’s breeder.

Little Splash could not be reached to comment, but we like to think that it would say that it ‘just wants to be loved’ and doesn’t like being seen as ‘a dollar doggy’.

Pampered from birth, the dog already weighs 180 pounds and is fed a steady diet of chicken and beef seasoned with sea cucumber and abalone.

Other most expensive dogs? Here’s an article.

What about cats?

ICVS is an animal hospital and pet care facility that provides health care, grooming and behavioral services in both Mandarin and English. They offer discounts for new adoption families for vaccinations and spray or neutering services. Every animal deserves a loving home, so consider checking out ICVS’s adoptable pets before making a decision about a new pet purchase.

To learn more about the ins and outs of pet adoption in Beijing, check out Kara Chin’s article about adopting a dog here.

Photo from http://www.icvsasia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=34&Itemid=27&lang=en.

Extremely clever animals, ferrets love to interact with their owners, easily learning tricks such as how to roll-over or stand. They require a good 16-18 hours of sleep everyday, but ferret owner Xiao Yu claims “whenever you want to play with them, they’ll be there.”

As a result of their only recent entrance into the Beijing pet market, ferrets are still relatively rare, selling from RMB 2,500 up to RMB 10,000 for ferrets with rare coloring or fur.  Despite the cost of food, cage and upkeep, ferret ownership may increase as Beijing residents discover how playful and easy Angora ferrets can be. 

To read more about pet ferrets in Beijing, check out Global Times’ article here.

New York Times: Breast-Feeding Linked to Lower Cancer Risk

China Daily (via Shanghaiist): Chinese still aren’t breastfeeding enough
On a related note, Chinese moms still tend to favor formula: “China is still lagging behind national and global breastfeeding targets, according to China Daily. Just 45.3% of newborns were breastfed for a full for months and only 20% of mothers breastfeed their infants for at least six months. WHO targets suggest that all infants six months or younger be fully breastfed. Part of the reason has been the "aggressive promotion of baby formula products" which misled young mothers through exaggerations that their product make babies "smarter" and "healthier." This is despite the whole melamine scandal, which seems to have little impact despite all the unfortunate deaths.”

USA Today: Average dog has mental abilities of 2-year-old child
Your dog is smarter than you might think: "Studies conducted on dogs in the U.S. and Canada indicate the average dog has the smarts of at least a 2-year-old human. According to study findings, canines can understand up to 250 words and gestures, can do basic calculations, and can even count to 5. This was established by putting the pooch participants through a battery of tests that would determine IQ. Stanley Coren, a professor and canine expert said, “We all want insight into how our furry companions thin, and we want to understand the silly, quirky and apparently irrational behaviors [that]Lassie or Rover demonstrate. Their stunning flashes of brilliance and creativity are reminders that they may not be Einsteins but are sure closer to humans than we thought.” When canine math skills were examined, their abilities trump a 3- or 4-year-old child and the social skills of man’s best friend are at the teenage level."

Beijing Youth Daily: Avoid using too much baby powder on your tots this summer (article in Chinese)
Perhaps a bit of tit-for-tat (remember all those health scares last year in the West surrounding Chinese-made children’s products?), but worth keeping an eye on all the same: "Many mothers like to apply baby powder on their kids after bath time in the summer, but the Korean Food and Drug Safety Administration recently discovered that 30 types of baby powder, including Germany’s NUK baby powder, contain asbestos. China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision says they have instigated an urgent investigation of baby powders sold domestically and businesses around Beijing are considering how to deal with this issue."

Beijing Youth Daily: Don’t towel off too hard (article in Chinese)
Some bad news for people who like a vigorous scrub down with towels (cuo zao, 搓澡, a.k.a. ‘exfoliating’): “This past summer, Ms Zhang bought a new towel and used it to vigorously scrub down her skin, but later discovered her skin had broken out in small red spots, which was later diagnosed as a molluscum virus. Although many people enjoy using towels for vigorous scrub downs, this practice can, in fact, be harmful to the body due to the protection your skin offers against a whole host of microbes, germs and other nasties …”