A border collie shakes hand with a staffer from Longgang dog rescue center. Li Zhong
Shenzhen rescued and captured nearly 10,000 dogs last year, 1,119 of which have been adopted by residents after receiving treatment at the city’s dog rescue centers, according to the city’s urban management authority.
Shenzhen has a total of four dog rescue centers. Reporters with Shenzhen Special Zone Daily visited one of them in Longgang District on Friday.
As the newest dog rescue center in Shenzhen, Longgang dog rescue center in Honghualing Ecological Park was officially put into use in July 2020. The center, which covers nearly 800 square meters, can accommodate more than 4,000 dogs a year.
According to Liu Xiongguang, director of the center, the center is divided into eight functional areas, specifically an office area, reception area, isolation area, living area, adoption area, warehouse area, activity area and science popularization area.
The center aims to accommodate, treat, adopt, and inform the public about stray or confiscated dogs in Longgang. If the dog owner is located within seven days, the center will notify him or her to reclaim the pet. Otherwise, the center will conduct treatment, sterilization and adoption based on guidance from experts.
The first place the dogs set foot in is the reception area, where staff will take photos and register them. Dogs with skin diseases, infectious diseases or other ailments will be quarantined. Other dogs will remain in the observation ward to wait for the next step.
After observation, dogs are moved to the living area. Every dog enjoys a single room. Staff with the center will feed them and play with them in the activity area.
Residents can go to the WeChat miniprogram, “Dog Raising Service of Shenzhen,” (“深圳市养犬服务”) to get information on the dogs available for adoption at each dog rescue center in the city. Dog lovers can choose their favorite dogs on the platform and directly apply for their adoption.
Successful applicants will be directed to go to the rescue center for the completion of the required adoption processes. Staff will check the qualifications of the adopters and will file related information.
The Shenzhen Municipal Urban Administration and Law Enforcement Bureau will hold an event Saturday, the city’s “love your pet dog day,” to encourage citizens to adopt dogs, rather than purchase.