With over 1 billion people, China is certainly a force in the world economy. We send many clients to Shanghai and have previously highlighted the requirements for getting there.
Today we wanted to share some excerpts from a first hand account of the experiences of people living in Shanghai with pets. The article comes The Shanghai Daily.
EXPATS intent on moving to Shanghai for a long stint often want to bring their pets with them. But with all the rules, regulations and paperwork required, it's surely a big decision, writes Tan Xian.
Having decided to settle in Shanghai, Renee Allen is keen to bring her five-year-old golden retriever, Benny, over from the United States.
But she continues to hesitate. Bringing a pet to the city from overseas is a complicated business.
For starters, Allen was told that if a pet failed a check at the airport customs gate, it could be euthanized.
She also learned from a company experienced in importing pets that a seven-day isolation period in a government-prescribed location, such as a pet hospital, is a must.
And when she studied local regulations on owning a dog in China on the Internet, she discovered that licensed dogs would still be caught if they don't follow certain rules. "The laws for dogs are too strict and complicated in Shanghai. I'm confused," Allen says.
Shanghai local Gee Gu, who has helped many pets enter and leave China, says people have to be careful when deciding whether to import pets.
"But the pets are taken good care of in the week-long isolation. The owner can even choose the brand of pet food," he says.
Dogs and cats are quite easy to bring in, says Gu. The owner just needs to provide two certificates from a vet and ensure the animal has had a rabies injection.
But other animals are forbidden. Gu once witnessed a girl arrive at the airport with a pet rabbit. As the law defines cats and dogs as the only pets allowed entry with a passenger, the rabbit had to be put down.
"Pets such as lizards or rabbits are defined as ordinary animals which are not easily brought into the country by private owners," Gu adds. "If the pet is a dog and likely to stay for a long period in the city, it needs a license."
Shanghai native Jim Ying owns a crossbred wolfhound. He made great efforts to settle the dog in his home after acquiring it from a company where it was previously used as a guard dog.
"It's really difficult because Shanghai does have restrictions on certain dog breeds and areas where they can live," says Ying who decided to raise the animal because the company broke up and the dog faced being euthanized.
Purebred dogs like wolfhounds, German shepherds and Dobermans - often used as guards dogs - are not allowed to live with families.
Ying says his dog was lucky as his first license did not state his breed as a wolfhound as he is a crossbreed and his news home was outside the inner-ring area (a permissible area).
However, the dog still worries Ying. "He's too big and loves barking and many neighbors are really scared of him. They complained to the realty management office and I had to keep explaining to people door-to-door. Otherwise the dog would have been 'jailed'."
Allen says Shanghai has too large a population in the downtown area and big dogs can be really fierce. "Also rabies is a big killer in China, and you must abide by the laws of the land that you choose to live in.
"You have to clearly investigate the laws and rules and you also should think about neighbors. You need to think a lot before bringing a dog to Shanghai."
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