Import

Bringing your pets (only cats or dogs are allowed) to the city is possible, but the quarantine procedure is as complicated as you can imagine. With a whole set of original certificates, including a health certificate and a rabies vaccination certificate, your pet will go through a 30-day compulsory quarantine by the entry-exit inspection and quarantine authorities.

With one passport, you can bring only one pet. The quarantine service will cost you at least 2,000 yuan (US 250) and, after your pet has passed quarantine, you should register it at the local police department under the name of a local Chinese resident. You may need to seek help from a local Chinese you trust to accomplish the mission.

Buy or adopt

You may also buy or adopt animals here. If you want to buy one, many are available at local pet markets. You should choose only licensed and vaccinated animals. Otherwise you may see the one you picked up die in a few days, because it has been kept alive by injected drugs.

You may also adopt one from local animal aid organizations.

World Wildlife Fund China

The first international conservation organisation invited to work in China, WWF has been active here since 1980, when Dr. George Schaller arrived to work with Chinese scientists on giant panda conservation. Today, WWF CPO (China Program Office) has 50 staff working on over 40 projects, from restoring the Yangtze river wetlands to environmental education and panda conservation.

Second Chance Animal Aid (SCAA)

SCAA is a group of expatriate volunteers who save animals (usually off the streets) and work with vets at PAW to make sure they are healthy and then make them available at no cost to anyone who can provide a good home.

All the dogs, whether imported or obtained locally, should be registered in accordance with the law, or they may be captured and euthanized by local police to protect people from rabies or biting. Walking dogs is prohibited in public squares or main streets of the city. Pet dogs are also not allowed to enter markets, stores, business districts, hotels, parks, schools, hospitals, movie theaters, gymnasiums and waiting rooms. Dogs are also banned on public transport.

Vets and other facilities

The city has several veterinary clinics as well as some other facilities established for pets, such as beauty salons and grocery stores only for pets.

You should choose a vet recommended by your friends or an animal aid organization, because highly skilled vets are not easy to find in the city.