Only One Dog- Did Ya Know??

Many are aware of China's 'one child policy,' but did you know that this country has a 'ONE DOG POLICY' as well?

Beijing and Shanghai are two major cities where such a regulation is enforced. Each household may own one registered canine and the fee for noncompliance is $800. Urban pet owners are restricted as to certain breeds that may be owned..."Vicious" dogs are outlawed throughout China, and in a nut shell, large dogs as a whole are outlawed. Great Danes, Dalmatians and Rottweilers are not seen taking a daily stroll.

Rabies, still an area of concern, and other health measures prompted this policy. Strays are not common.

Interestingly, dog ownership in China is a fairly recent fancy. The countryside has always had dogs to sound the alarm at a visitor's presence and to help with the rodent population. Dogs and cats are meat sources in areas of this country. June sees the Annual Summer Solstice Dog Meat Festival in Yulin where several thousand canines were consumed this year.

For $160 upon initial registration and $80 each year after, Chinese canines sport a plastic tag with their age, sex and breed. In Beijing, this tag is decorated with...what else? A Pekinese!