State laws restricting pet lovers from owning dogs over a certain
height are causing anger in China, it has been reported.
Though pet ownership is booming in the East Asian nation, Beijing's
inflexible laws governing the ownership of dogs is causing distress,
according to Reuters.
Stemming back to the Communist era when Mao Zedong looked down
upon those who kept pets as timewasters, the law banning dogs
over 1.1 foot tall is strictly enforced by the city's dog catchers
roaming the streets.
Those with petite pooches under the height restriction also have
to pay an annual licence fee of 1,000 yuan ($150). According to
the report, more than 700,000 pet dogs were registered last year
which is up by 17.3 per cent from 2006 but there are many other
animals kept in secret due to the draconian laws.
"We are carrying out measures as we did in the past
… any dogs without proper licenses will be treated accordingly,"
said a spokesman for the Beijing Municipal Public Security
Bureau.
Australian sugar glider flies into UK homes
One native Australasian animal is being tipped to become the new exotic
pet of choice in the UK.
The sugar glider, native to Australia and New Guinea, can glide for
up to 200 feet thanks to a stretchy membrane they have across their
backs.
Sian Bailey, a spokeswoman from Southern Sugar Gliders in Southampton,
said the animals bond well with humans and have a lively and inquisitive
nature.
"They are nocturnal so I let mine out every night so they can
glide and stretch their legs. They require a lot of care and attention
- far more than a cat or dog," she added.
Ms Bailey concluded that owners should start off by
carrying their pet around their neck in a pouch in order to bond with
the animal.
Sugar Gliders grow to around 16 to 21 cm in length and weigh between
90 and 150 grams. They have a pearl grey colored fur with black and
cream patches.
Dog droppings to be DNA tested
In pet news from the European continent, Italian dog owners are being
warned their dogs dirt could lead to them being tracked down and fined,
it has emerged.
A northern Italian town is proposing to create a database of all
registered dogs in the area and test droppings left on the pavement
and in parks in order to identify the culprits.
The owners of such animals will then be fined accordingly who failing
to clean up after their pets in the town of Vercilli, near Turin.
Antonio Prencipe, councillor in charge of the environment in Vercelli,
told La Stampa daily yesterday (September 23rd): "If signs and
invitations aren't enough, we'll try genetics. I want a clean city."
According to Reuters, the Israeli town of Petah Tikva introduced
a similar programme on a six-month trial earlier this month where
dog owners were asked to take their animals to a municipal veterinarian
to be swabbed for DNA.
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