Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If you plan to live in Shunyi, which sits astride the Fifth Ring Road, or in a residential
compound technically outside the Fifth Ring, confirm with the local Public Security Bureau
to see if you can definitely register your large or additional dogs there.
Life for pets in Beijing is reasonably pleasant, but unless you're planning to locate to Shun-
yi where housing rather than apartments is the norm, they might feel a little hemmed in
by city life. Dogs are not allowed in public parks, but there are several dog parks and ran-
dom grassy areas around the city where dogs can romp and play. Just be sure to check the
parks' cleanliness—some of them can be a little sketchy at times. One great way to get
your pet—and you—familiar with Beijing is to sign them up for some training with Doggy
Thoughts (
http://chinadogtraining.com
)
, a professional obedience training center, which of-
fers training not only for your dog, but also for you.
Throughout your time here, the government requires that your pet has annual rabies vac-
cinations. When you do this it is essential that you go only to official vaccination facilities
displaying the gold government vaccinations plaque. Black-market drugs, bought from pet
shops and the like, are typically fake, out of date, or have been stored in conditions that
render them useless. Despite it being the law, compliance with vaccinations is staggeringly
low, with about only 1 in 10 dogs in the city vaccinated. If you plan to take your pet outside
your front door, it is critical it is protected. Infected dogs do not typically foam at the mouth
like Cujo, so it's unlikely you'll know which dogs to steer clear of.
Another factor is the weather. Temperatures can soar up to around 40°C (104°F) in the
summer and down to -10°C (14°F) in winter. So if you plan to bring in a malamute or a
sphinx, it might feel a little unhappy at either extreme.
There is no shortage of pets that run, fly, swim, and slither for sale in Beijing, but you
should definitely approach with caution. Breeding is an extremely immature industry here,
and all it takes to call oneself a breeder is to put two pets together and produce offspring.
There are no regulations, no animal-protection laws, and breeding is predominantly about
making money, which in China means churning out animals as quickly as possible. The
result of this is that females are forced to reproduce too frequently and litters are removed
from their mothers too early—creating poor nutrition on all sides. The gene pool of “pure”
breeds is also a little too pure, and the inbreeding leaves animals riddled with complications
for the rest of their lives. If you purchase a new puppy, kitten, or guinea pig from one of
