Some individuals are very worried about the rise in reputation of Tibetan Mastiff canines in China. A sign of prosperity and protection in Tibet for centuries, the Tibetan Mastiff is becoming more popular. Now, new rich are paying as much as $ 600,000 for purebred Tibetan Mastiff dogs, which is raising the concern of animal-welfare activists.
Why Tibetan Mastiffs are popular At one point, the Tibetan Mastiff was considered a holy animal by Tibetans. A Tibetan Mastiff is considered a sign of both home and security. The dog breed is huge, with some animals easily approaching 180 pounds. Many Tibetan Mastiff dogs have been cross-bred, and finding true purebreds is difficult. Some dog breeders even go so far as to poach purebred Tibetan Mastiff dogs.
Expense of a Tibetan Mastiff For numerous years in China, the Communist Party banned the ownership of dogs as pets. The animals are considered "bourgeois" and a status symbol. Though dog ownership isn't banned anymore, it does take at least $ 100 and various months to get them licensed and registered. Before the owner can register or keep a dog, it must be approved both by the neighborhood and local police. To register the dog, a owner must provide photos of the dog, proof of home ownership or lease, and extensive applications. In short, owning a dog in China is an expensive and difficult proposition on top of the high cost.
Pet or status symbol? Because of their status as a symbol more than a pet, some Mastiffs are seen as being in danger. The couple that purchased the dog known as Yangtze River Number Two keeps their $ 600,000 dog in a cage. The International Center for Veterinary Services in Beijing speaks loudly against the obsession with Tibetan Mastiffs. It's noted that numerous of these so-called "pets" are put on display more than treated like pets. The response from many owners and breeders are the pets take extensive amounts of time and cash to care for.
Further reading MSNBC
today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38263729/ns/today-today_pets_and_animals
Global Times
globaltimes.cn/www/english/metro-beijing/lifestyle/fashion and amp;shopping/2010-04/524055.html