Vaccine push might be a dog
By Dong Zhen and Ni Yinbin |
February 24, 2010, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LOCAL police yesterday announced a drive to get all licensed dogs citywide vaccinated before the 2010 World Expo as a public-safety measure, but the campaign's effectiveness is in question, given the overwhelming number of unlicensed canines in the city.
For dogs with a legal police-issued ID, vaccination is usually provided around midyear. The vaccination cost is included in the annual license-administration fee paid to the police.
This year, police have decided to advance the vaccination to the period between March 5 and April 18, before the Expo opens in May.
"We also encourage owners of the unlicensed dogs to come and get the pets officially registered to get the shots for their dogs," said a police officer, surnamed Feng, yesterday.
But it's questionable how many owners of unregistered dogs would be persuaded.
To get the pet legally certified, one has to pay a an annual dog administration fee: 2,000 yuan (US$292) for a dog raised inside the Inner Ring Road and 1,000 yuan for one raised between the Inner and Outer Ring Road.
Local legislators who are now working on a new canine-raising law have concluded that a major obstacle discouraging people from getting the dogs registered is the "obviously over-priced license cost."
According to these legislators, who conducted rounds of citywide investigations, there are at least 800,000 dogs raised in local homes - but only a quarter of them are legally registered and police-vaccinated.
Some legislators have called for a substantial cut in the dog-license fee, suggesting several hundred yuan annually would be more reasonable. That would increase the number of licensed dogs, reducing risks of rabies cases, they argue.
"The cost of the annual vaccination shot, the license chip as well as the license book itself would cost about 100 yuan. Considering the other related administration costs, a more reasonable price should be between 300 and 500 yuan," according to a proposal submitted to the local government early this year by some members of the city's top advisory body.
A new round of discussion for improving the current draft of the law is to be held on March 1.
Unlicensed dogs caught by police can be confiscated and taken away. Owners must pay a penalty before a short deadline to get the dogs back.
For dogs with a legal police-issued ID, vaccination is usually provided around midyear. The vaccination cost is included in the annual license-administration fee paid to the police.
This year, police have decided to advance the vaccination to the period between March 5 and April 18, before the Expo opens in May.
"We also encourage owners of the unlicensed dogs to come and get the pets officially registered to get the shots for their dogs," said a police officer, surnamed Feng, yesterday.
But it's questionable how many owners of unregistered dogs would be persuaded.
To get the pet legally certified, one has to pay a an annual dog administration fee: 2,000 yuan (US$292) for a dog raised inside the Inner Ring Road and 1,000 yuan for one raised between the Inner and Outer Ring Road.
Local legislators who are now working on a new canine-raising law have concluded that a major obstacle discouraging people from getting the dogs registered is the "obviously over-priced license cost."
According to these legislators, who conducted rounds of citywide investigations, there are at least 800,000 dogs raised in local homes - but only a quarter of them are legally registered and police-vaccinated.
Some legislators have called for a substantial cut in the dog-license fee, suggesting several hundred yuan annually would be more reasonable. That would increase the number of licensed dogs, reducing risks of rabies cases, they argue.
"The cost of the annual vaccination shot, the license chip as well as the license book itself would cost about 100 yuan. Considering the other related administration costs, a more reasonable price should be between 300 and 500 yuan," according to a proposal submitted to the local government early this year by some members of the city's top advisory body.
A new round of discussion for improving the current draft of the law is to be held on March 1.
Unlicensed dogs caught by police can be confiscated and taken away. Owners must pay a penalty before a short deadline to get the dogs back.
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