Beijing: The Chinese capital has introduced a "one dog" policy for each household in efforts to curb an explosive growth of the canine as pets in Beijing, which has resulted in significant rise in rabies.
The measure was announced in a joint circular from the city's Public Security Bureau, Agriculture Bureau, Administration for Industry and Commerce and the city's law enforcement authorities for urban administration.
Only one pet dog is allowed per household in the zones, and dangerous and large dogs will be banned. Anyone keeping an unlicensed dog will face prosecution, Xinhua news agency reported.
Owners are also required to have their dogs inoculated regularly.
The Ministry of Health website shows that in the first three quarters of this year, the country recorded 2,254 rabies cases, an increase of 29.69 per cent over the same period last year.
The disease, caused by a bite from an infected dog, claimed 318 lives nationwide in September.
Beijing had 550,000 registered dogs this year, but the Beijing Association for Small Animal Protection says the city may also be home to around 450,000 unregistered dogs.
"The reason people don't register their dogs is to avoid paying the 500 yuan ($62.50) registration fee," Zhang Zhang, the official in charge of the dog chapter for the association, said.
Comments
0 comment