In some areas of China, the rise in recognition of the Tibetan Mastiff dog is both an economic boom and animal welfare concern. The Tibetan Mastiff is considered the protector of Tibet, and a sign of prosperity. Animal welfare activists are raising questions about the $ 600,000 price tag being paid for some purebred animals. Article resource – Tibetan Mastiff popularity raising questions of animal welfare by Newystype.com.
The history of the Tibetan Mastiff
Tibetan Mastiff dogs were, at one point, considered a holy animal. A Tibetan Mastiff is considered a sign of both home and security. Weighing in at as much as 180 pounds, some Tibetan Mastiffs are huge. A truly purebred Tibetan Mastiff dog is rare. Some dog breeders even go so far as to poach purebred Tibetan Mastiff canines.
Expense of a Tibetan Mastiff
The Communist Party of China used to bad the ownership of dogs as pets. The Party considered owning a dog a sign of the “bourgeois” society. Animal ownership is no longer banned, but it takes months and hundreds of dollars to license them. Both the neighborhood community and police security bureau must approve the dog before it can be registered. The dog also demands identification paperwork that contains passport photos, a registration document, copy of the property title or lease and a yearly renewal. 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 obsession with Tibetan Mastiffs is called “dangerous” by the International Center for Veterinary Services in Beijing. It’s noted that numerous of these so-called “pets” are put on display more than treated like pets. Breeders and owners dispute this claim, pointing out that keeping a Tibetan Mastiff takes extensive care.
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
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