Should Expats Bring Their Pets to China?

Should Expats Bring Their Pets to China?
Jan 08, 2011 By Dr. Anthony David Beck, Doc , eChinacities.com

The Chinese are rapidly becoming a population of pet lovers. As with all social changes, this change is painful and the speed of change varies by the city or province. I have read posts that suggest that bringing your beloved pet(s) to China should be avoided at all costs; I disagree with this strongly and if your pet could talk, I think they would too.

China is a country with strong laws that are firmly enforced, and while I may not agree with their methods of enforcement, as long as pet owners satisfy the regulations then they will not fall foul of the authorities. Each province has its own regulations. In Beijing, import quarantine is four weeks, while in Shanghai it is only seven days. Vets in Beijing who have government approval can give the Rabies vaccination but in Shanghai only the government vets can give this vaccination. Hence it is important that you have a thorough understanding of these local regulations before arrival because this may even include where you live! To live within the 5th ring road in Beijing, one’s dog has to stand less than 35 cm at the shoulder.

Throughout China, dogs need to be registered yearly with the local police. This process is routine. However, owners often complain that in those areas where the government officials give the vaccinations, the procedure can be unhygienic and a little rough. Some of the vaccinations that we take for granted in the West are not available for our dogs and cats in China, but generally the health liability is still low even though this is the case; the essential multi-vaccinations and Rabies vaccination are available.

Veterinary care in China is understandably at a lower level than in the West, however this is changing in Beijing and Shanghai. Western veterinary consultants are helping to drive this improvement, just as Western doctors have helped develop the medical profession in China. Clients often think that such international standard medical services are especially expensive in China, be it human or veterinary, but I’d suggest that its their cost perspective that may have changed as so many other products and services are actually a lot cheaper than in their home countries.

Also before you arrive give a thought to where you may be going after your time in China! China is a non-registered country from an export perspective, hence the EU will require a rabies antibody titer blood sample before your return, as will many other countries; the Americas do not. Hence if you are coming from the EU, get this blood sample and a pet passport before coming. This blood sample aside, the export process has the same steps as the export process from all other countries (i.e. an export health certificate and permit from an approved veterinarian), though there is a little bit of blood sampling that this author deems unnecessary. During my time in China, whilst dogs and cats are predominantly the pets that I have treated, iguanas, chameleons, parrots, terrapins, turtles, and all of the small furries have found their way though my door. It should be noted that the export of all of these exotic species from China is becoming increasingly complicated and in certain instances prohibited (e.g. birds); hence I would recommend leaving your more unusual pets at home.

Obviously China isn’t presently as pet friendly as many other expat destinations, however it is getting there and if we wanted the familiar and risk-free we would have stayed at home. The countries we visit may well have rules and regulations, beliefs and perspectives that we may find frustrating or unacceptable, but I think we should remember that in their society we are the oddity. If a local stares or grimaces at us as we walk our 30 kg dog down their street, I think we should swallow a big dose of humility and accept that experiences vary in our world and mature over time.
 

Related Links
How to Raise a Pet in Beijing
Animal Magic: Keeping a Pet in Shanghai
The Five Essential Stages to Buying a New Puppy in China

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Aug 01, 2011 07:16 Report Abuse