PAMPERED POOCH: Beijing's huge dog population provides delight for their owners but puts a strain on city facilities

FRANCISCO LITTLE

From dog salons to dog hair do's, it's got this foreigner wondering just how much the dog industry is worth, and what the side effects of this trend may be.

An unusual love affair has taken hold of me since I've been here in Beijing. After just seven weeks living here, I'm feeling a little obsessive

The love affair has nothing to do with my usual passion-food. The culinary delights of Beijing are spectacular, but something else has captured my senses. Dogs. I don't want to eat them; it's just that the gorgeous creatures are swamping me at every turn. I've watched in wonder at the splendid, manicured pooches that seem to occupy every corner of the city. From dog salons to dog hair do's, it's got this foreigner wondering just how much the dog industry is worth, and what the side effects of this trend may be.

As a rule, I love big dogs. I have left my beloved 40-kg, black Labrador called Ralph, back home with my parents back in Australia. He's at least eight times the size of the little mutts in Beijing.

I am missing my beloved pooch, and it's turning me stir crazy. I'm finding myself staring longingly at pugs as they waddle alongside their owners in my neighbourhood. A dog's life has never looked so good. I'm yet to find a salon here that could make me look equally as preened. I used to hate Maltese Toy dogs for their hyperactive temperament and high pitched barking, now I find them rather endearing. Usually, yapping from small dogs makes my blood boil. Not anymore. I really want my own!

But, as with all good love affairs, sometimes you need to listen to your head rather than your heart. Avoid being swept up in the moment. Don't rush out and buy or adopt your own pooch. The dog love, or lust, that has swept me up is coming at a cost to Beijing, and it only takes a simple scratching at the surface to find out why.

An article on the Beijing Government's official website says that in 2006 there were more than 400,000 dogs registered as pets in Beijing, adding that including those that have not been registered, the total number is thought to be in excess of 1 million.

This puts an enormous strain on animal rescue shelters. Organizations such as the Human and Animal Environmental Education Center offer a plethora of adoption or sponsorship programs for dogs that have been abandoned or are simply unwanted. It's tough love in a big city, and it shows that a dog's life is more often than not unglamorous.

Then there's the issue of vaccinations. As reported by Xinhua, rabies is the leading fatal infectious disease in China. Like in many countries, it's compulsory for Chinese dogs to be vaccinated against rabies. The disease is fatal. Despite this, it's estimated less than 10 percent of dogs are vaccinated. As a dog lover, I find this outrageous. Not only does it pose a risk to humans, but also it's a huge risk for dogs. In 2006, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported that hospitals here were treating as many as 6,000 dog bites a month. The World Health Organization says rabies continues to be a significant health problem in Asia and Africa, killing 55,000 people annually. Surely the pampering isn't just for show? Surely people love their dogs enough to vaccinate them against disease, and in turn protect public health?

One inhibiting factor could be the cost. While vaccination can be free if your dog is registered, the Beijing Government's official website says it is 1,000 yuan ($143) to initially register and then 500 ($71.5) for renewal. If the animal has been neutered, the fee is heavily discounted. The other inhibiting factor may be that it's rather a lengthy process to go through to register a dog here--three steps, no less. A lot of people simply don't have time to jump through the hoops of bureaucracy.

Police conduct ongoing rounds checking for unregistered dogs. It is part of efforts to regulate dog ownership and safeguard public health. The slow uptake of registration is probably understandable in a country experiencing enormous social and economic change. I really hope that people love their dogs enough to protect their health and get them vaccinated and that they aren't simply as a fashion accessory.

The flip side is that the designer dog industry is now generating thousands of jobs and millions of yuan each year in Beijing. The obvious winners are the breeders and those who offer pampering services and dog accessories.

So what now of my love affair? I always knew I couldn't really have my own dog over here, but it's nice to dream. Adoption is also out of the question, because I can't commit more than two years ahead. I'm going to look into sponsorship programs and I think I'll offer up my dog-walking services for free, just to feed my insatiable love affair without jumping off the deep end into a full-blown commitment.

The author is an Australian living in Beijing