One Dog Policy In China

For the last 30 years they have been banned from having more than one child in their family.

Now the residents of Shanghai are facing a new limit over the size of their household – the one-dog policy.

Nobody will be allowed to own more than one pooch under the proposals which call for zero tolerance on unplanned pregnancies.

Faced with an unexpected litter, the owner will have three months to find homes for the animals or they will be packed off to adoption agencies.

The only alternative will be sterilisation, Shanghai authorities said.

The move is a response to rampant barking, unscooped waste, and the growing risk of dog attacks which officials say is affecting the city’s environment and sanitation.

In Beijing for instance owners are not allowed to keep dogs taller than 14 centimetres lest they attack or frighten non-canine loving residents. The rule is routinely flouted.

The move on dogs lags some time behind a similar rule for humans.

China’s one-child policy was officially brought in in 1978 to stop the population exploding out of control.

Filed Under: Animal & Plant Life