Hi, We are moving from Hong Kong to Shanghai over the summer and have 2 big dogs. I'm a bit worried about the one-dog policy... Are there ways to get around that ? Is it one dog per household or one dog per visa holder ? Also is it true that having my male dog neutered will make things easier and cheaper license ?
Many thanks from the woofs...

The one dog policy is quite strict, and i believe it is one dog per household, if you search on this site you will find more answers.
As for the neutering, yes, the license will be much cheaper, depending on where you live and the size of the dog, I think for our lab we paid 500rmb for this year.

1 dog policy is less strict if yo live outside the middle ringroad in Puxi...almost non-existent if you live outside the outer ringroad(like me)

You can bring in one dog per passport. One dog per household. But you can get a neighbor or friend to license the other dog for you. SUBSTANTIALLY cheaper for neutered and spayed animals. I think Shanghai's one dog policy is stupid, but at least they did something right to try and promote spaying and neutering. Far too many stray animals.

etc wrote:You can bring in one dog per passport. One dog per household. But you can get a neighbor or friend to license the other dog for you. SUBSTANTIALLY cheaper for neutered and spayed animals. I think Shanghai's one dog policy is stupid, but at least they did something right to try and promote spaying and neutering. Far too many stray animals.

Yes, I was told if my dog was spayed I would only have to pay half the fee = 250 kuai. BUT, you have to go to a licensed vet that is doing an ultrasound for 200 kuai and gives you a piece of paper saying that the dog is spayed. When I asked: is this paper valid forever, can I use it for next year dog license? Answer: we don't know So at least for me, with extra taxi costs there would have been no money saved....

Medea, I believe once you renew each year, they would have to acknowledge the prior finding. It's not as if an animal can get unspayed over time.

Many thanks for all your answers.
I hope we'll be living near the SAS campus in Puxi but that might be wishful thinking... Is that outside the middle ring road ? The outer ring road ?
And which are the most dog friendly neighborhoods ?
When we moved to Hong Kong a lot of people told me that it would be hell with dogs and it's actually heaven! Big park to let them run right nearby, plenty of dogs, etc..
We will definitely be out of town as life with 2 dogs is not s city life!
I'm still trying to figure out the specifics of this one dog policy, is it per passport, per work visa or per household (which would be a big nuisance!) ?
As for the scan... surely they would notice whether my male dog has his balls on or not, no ?

One dog per passport to bring into the country. One dog per household to be licensed. The scan to check male dogs being neutered is very easy. For females that are spayed is more expensive because it requires ultrasound.

Zui Di (SAS area) Puxi is out in the sticks... I am pretty sure its well outside the ring roads.

Lots of big villas out there. It's kind of like the country side of Shanghai.... not city living.

Thanks!
One dog per passport to bring into the country would mean there could be one on me and the other on my husband even if we have the same address ?
How am I going to get around the one dog per household law when I get them a license ????
I would hate fearing that anyone, ayi, plumber and such entering the house could go and tell on us if they see 2 dogs in the house... especially as I've been told they will seize a dog and not give it back - which is such a scary idea, I can hardly believe it...

Yes, one dog under your passport and one on your husband's. If you need to get two dogs licensed, make nice with one of your neighbors and have him or her register the second dog in your name. The licenses are by neighborhood--having a license doesn't mean you can take your dogs all over.

Don't worry too much about people telling. Vast majority of Chinese can't be bothered to rat you out. They do seize unlicensed dogs, but usually in "dog sweeps". But the cost of licensing now is low enough that there's no reason not to get them licensed.

The only other problem you might encounter is if your dogs are on the banned breeds, which typically include very large dogs, dogs violent by reputation, and certain breeds like bulldogs.

SAS is outside the outer ring.

Banned breeds ? very large dogs.... oooooooh I better look into that. I have a giant breed... unknown to most and very gentle but very big.Thanks all!

if you live out here by SAS(like me) it will be ok. I think there are lots of people here with more than 1 dog.When you get them here ,there is a great and helpful pet shop nearby called Petlove for supplies and advice ,grooming ,boarding and even helped me get my large dog to a vet.I even "borrow" a dog from them every now and then to play with mine.

P.S...I used to have a Newfie...god I love them....but not a good breed for Australia....too hot for the poor girl...she slept with her head in the water bowl...or in the paddle pool we had for her.Good luck...I'd love to do a "playdate" when you get them here!

Thanks jodiegillies!
Would love a doggy playdate when we've all arrived safe and sound!
My Newfie is going to experience her first Hong Kong summer... don't really want to have her shaved but might have to...
It's so reassuring to hear that there are several people with more than one dog... and a pet shop nearby!
For now I am focusing on the school applications. If you have any info on that (SAS SCIS and Concordia), maybe we can pm ?

And dog friendly countryside "estates" ?! near SAS... 'cos I'm use hoping to get my son in... altho he might end up the other end of town...

Rumor is SAS Pudong has more room than Puxi, but that can vary by year. The Pudong campus is way out, surrounded by a few big homes and a golf course, next to the sea. By reputation a large asian population and lots of homework. Concordia is I think only in Pudong, but I might be wrong. SCIS in Hongqiao is within outer belt (near middle belt) so things close to it may be more dog-problematic. I've heard people there mostly like it though. Lots of school threads to wade through

Thanks. I really need to fly over and have a look!

Does anyone have tips about pet relocation agency to move our dogs from HK to Shanghai ?
And what type of visa is needed on passport to move pet ? My husband will be the only one with a work visa and God only knows when i get a resident visa or whatever they give a "dependent wife"...
And I understand about trying to get friendly with a neighbor to get them to license my 2nd dog but that level of "friendship" might take quite q while !!!! And I thought i'd need them licensed as soon as they land, no ?

sophieZ wrote:Does anyone have tips about pet relocation agency to move our dogs from HK to Shanghai ?

Try to get several quotations from different companies, for example

http://www.globypetrelo.com/
http://www.jialiang.com/english/index.asp
http://www.worldcarepet.com

sophieZ wrote:And what type of visa is needed on passport to move pet ? My husband will be the only one with a work visa and God only knows when i get a resident visa or whatever they give a "dependent wife"...

Z-Visa, one dog per passport& Z-Visa

sophieZ wrote:And I understand about trying to get friendly with a neighbor to get them to license my 2nd dog but that level of "friendship" might take quite q while !!!! And I thought i'd need them licensed as soon as they land, no ?

Well, a lot of my Chinese neighbours don't bother to register their dogs..... so, this being China ....
I know that petinshanghai helps with registering dogs, so may be they can help you registering your two dogs or point you in the direction of people that can help you http://www.petinshanghai.com/

Wow! Thanks Medea, you've been a huge help!
I'll get going on those links now that the kids' schools are nearly sorted out!
Cheers!