Officials in Jiangmen, China, are banning residents from keeping dogs, in a move that will take effect at the end of August, according to Chinese media. In one week, owners can begin taking their dogs to drop-off centers, where they will be either adopted by residents of rural areas or euthanized.
China Photos-Getty Images
Update at 6:23 p.m. ET, Thursday: City officials have now relented, and cancelled the ban on dog ownership. Our original post continues:
The ban targets dogs in densely populated sections of Jiangmen, a city with a population of 3.8 million. Any owners who wish to keep their dogs must apply for a license, reports China Daily.
But it seems that only people who plan to use their dogs to provide security for valuable warehouses or businesses will be granted licenses.
Britain’s Daily Mail, citing the Chinese-language newspaper The Jiangmen Daily, reports that “42 residents had died from rabies in the past three years.”
