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landa · Joined: 21 Apr 2009 Posts: 14 Location: New York

I've am looking for a teaching position in China for the fall semester. Has anyone ever brought their pets with them? Any concerns?

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

Bad idea. Pets here are often a nuisance. The living situations do not lend themselves to the keeping of pets. The poor construction methods of the older "apartment" buildings allow noise to travel and easily annoy our neignbors. A small in the house dog, probably not a problem.

Dogs that are active will be an inconvenience to your neighbor. Cats roaming around will be captured by other people for their own purposes.

After nearly two weeks of being constantly awakened, I had to tell my neighbors that if they didn't get rid of their two puppies, I would call the authorities. The authorities feed unlicensed dogs to the lions at the local zoo. Dog licenses are relatively expensive--600 RMB for a dog, or so I have heard.

Some flats, on the first floor, do have a small yard. My neighbor kept a St. Bernard in one. Great dog, rarely barked.

evaforsure · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 1217

Some people cannot do without their best friend....I live in china with a pet and have found little trouble in doing so...the trip over may be the worst part and you have to be careful to insure that heat is provided ..and water will be given....once over here.. First check the size restriction of the animal...in what city you have your eye on....never seen pets fed to zoo creatures�. but they will pick them up and take them to a kind of pound...often they are given to new families...this part may depend on the funding the local authorities have to provide pounds ..... Beijing has several with an adopt a pet program, not sure what the fees are now but he incl. Shots.....License; the cost is around 500 to 2000 for multi occupant buildings but goes way down when living in a ground floor structure.. to around 50...but most foreigners don�t pay .... one thing is for sure.. if your pet is large enough and perhaps bites, your apartment will be safer from thieves.. but if the pet bites someone else or another animal.. It is the owner�s responsibility to take the person or the animal to the hosp...In Beijing there is a guy named Dr. Tony, who could fill you in on all you need to know�.also the Beijinger had a thread on this some time ago with great info�

Optional_Toaster · Joined: 22 Mar 2009 Posts: 74 Location: Dong bei

I think it depends on the situation where you are living. I live on a university campus and the building manager doesn't mind me having a dog here. He's only a nuisance to me, really! Fun watching him terrify students just by his existence....actually a nice distraction sometimes as there aren't many foreigners here and they notice the dog more than me now. Puppies are a pain to raise but he has made life in the frozen northeast more bearable. Pay the fees, get the shots, make sure they have a microchip and they are good to go (just need their paperwork). Cats are pretty commonplace around here, but they are 100 percent housecats (at least foreigner owned) and never go outside.

Moving around inside of China is a pain in the butt with him...the trains don't want to take him and not every flight has a pressurized cabin for animals. Need some guanxi or money to get the ball rolling I guess. The train station I called said that Beijing isn't welcoming animals from other provinces even if they are just passing through.

eddy-cool · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 1008

I would say, think it over very hard before you decide...

Health inspection at the border may prove rather traumatising for your pet. Inoculations may be difficult to obtain in time... Certificates?

And, is the pet climate-adaptable? Don't even think of bringing a German shepherd from a temperate climate to Guangdong or Hunan!

And yes, travelling in China with a pet...I can't see how you can do that.

If your dog escapes from your flat you may have to write it off as so much dog steak on a Chiense family's lunchtable!

Or the local cops collared it as a potential health hazard (rabies').

xiao51 · Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 208

Yes Sir I Can Bogey · Joined: 23 Mar 2009 Posts: 201

The Chinese have a great love for dogs and cats, largely experienced through the digestive tract.

Optional_Toaster · Joined: 22 Mar 2009 Posts: 74 Location: Dong bei

thanks for the extra info xiao51, still learning about what is what here.

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

We have two cats, but they more or less adopted us from the gang of free-ranging felines we have in this apartment complex. My advice would be to find a good home for your pet before you leave, come here, get the lay of the land and then look for a dog or cat.

Two years ago some BJ cops shot a guy's dog. Unknown reason. Maybe just target practice.

landa · Joined: 21 Apr 2009 Posts: 14 Location: New York

I have a 4 yr old cat that I really would like to keep. One of my concerns is that he does not do well with people. When I first adopted him, he had a seizure the first night because he was scared. He hasn't had any more since. But when I moved to a new apartment, he hid himself the entire day until he became comfortable. He really is a good cat once he is familiar with his surroundings; it's just getting him acclimated in the beginning with everyone touching him. He doesn't like to be touched. I really want to bring him; I guess I'll just have the vet give him some type of relaxer before we leave.