ICVS Makes Pet Care & Adoption a Breeze

Vincent R. Vinci, Contributing Editor | Sep 25, 2023 12:04 pm | Add a comment | 125 reads

This article was originally published as part of a monthly series by PasonGlobalMoving

Let's say you've been in China for a while – or maybe you've even just arrived – and you're looking for a bit of companionship for you and your family in the form of a furry friend. The best answer is to adopt!

Why Adopt?

Adopting a companion animal – be it a cat or dog – is relatively easy, as there are many shelters, rescue groups, and even individuals looking to rehome animals. Also, adopting a pet means you'll avoid buying into China's largely unregulated breeding industry, which tends to put profit over animal welfare – which can result in animals with health problems or behavioral issues.

If you're on the fence about adopting or simply want to try it out -- and help an animal in need in the process – then fostering is another option. This not only gives you the opportunity for companionship of a pet for a few weeks or a few months, but it allows the pet to be socialized and build trust around humans, increasing their chances of adoption down the line.

What to Do After Adoption

First things first: register your pet! All dogs must be registered by law, and unlicensed dogs may be classified as a stray and taken by the police. Large dogs may be registered outside the 5th Ring Road, but you can check at your local police station to see if large dogs are allowed in your compound.

Next, ensure your new friend is vaccinated, especially against rabies, by going to a legally registered and officially designated rabies vaccination hospital. It's important to keep in mind that vaccinations are required annually and that China doesn't recognize three-year vaccinations from the USA, Canada, and other countries and regions.

Bringing Pets Into China

If by chance you're a pet owner coming from abroad and want to bring your pet with you, the process is very manageable, according to ICVS. There is no quarantine if pets are coming from any designated rabies-free countries or regions. For pets coming from non-rabies free countries or regions, there is a process by which pet owners can apply for a quarantine waiver which may usually be completed in about two to three months before arrival.

For pets that do not meet the waiver requirements, they will be quarantined for 30 days upon arrival. Pets undergoing quarantine may only fly into Beijing or Shanghai, where government-operated quarantine kennels are available. Be careful to make sure you’re entering via Beijing or Shanghai -- other cities do not have quarantine kennels, so pets will be returned to their originating countries or be euthanized if owners are not able to transport their pets out of China.

If you're in search of a place that can help with the adoption process, vaccination services, and the day-to-day health needs of your pets, then the International Center for Veterinary Services (ICVS) is the place to go.

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Beijing, ICVS is the first full service international standard animal hospital and pet care facility in China. From their center in Wangjing ICVS offers a ton of medical and pet care services for companion animals.

Along with these services, ICVS also actively helps potential pet owners with adoption. As part of their non-profit humane animal welfare programs, ICVS has a pet adoption program to help find forever families for stray, rescued, abandoned, and rehomed pets. You can find out more about pet adoption and their programs via their website at icvsasia.com. You can also check their regular listings on the ICVS official WeChat account (WeChatID: ICVSCHINA) or scan the QR code below, where they offer regular announcements about pet care and adoption.