Some individuals are very concerned about the rise in popularity of Tibetan Mastiff canines in China. For centuries, the Tibetan Mastiff was thought to be the protector of Tibet. With price tags as high as $ 600,000 for a purebred animal, Tibetan Mastiffs are concerning some animal welfare activists.
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 breeders will even poach a purebred Tibetan Mastiff if they find them.
Keeping a Tibetan Mastiff in China
For many years in China, the Communist Party banned the ownership of dogs as pets. The Party considered owning a dog a sign of the “bourgeois” society. Though dog ownership isn’t banned anymore, it does take at least $ 100 and a number of 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. The dog also needs identification paperwork that consists of passport photos, a registration document, copy of the property title or lease and a yearly renewal. On top of the high cost of a purebred Mastiff, these additional costs make owning a dog as a pet a huge financial investment.
Pets as a status symbol at risk?
Though the Tibetan Mastiff is usually regarded as a very kind and friendly pet, many of the wealthy owners and breeders that deal in Tibetan Mastiffs view them as more than pets. For example, the couple that purchased Yangtze River Number Two, a Tibetan Mastiff, for $ 600,000 typically keep him in a cage. The obsession with Tibetan Mastiffs is called “dangerous” by the International Center for Veterinary Services in Beijing. The Centre notes that most of these “pets” are kept in cages and put on display more than treated like pets. Many breeders and owners point out that they spend extensive amounts of time and cash caring for these pets.
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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