Dog owners in China’s tech hub Shenzhen need to microchip their pets in 2020
- Shenzhen, a pioneer in pet welfare in China, mandates dog microchipping
- Supporters say the move helps recover lost pets while others fear slippery slope to human chip implantation
A new rule on pets in China’s southern tech hub has touched a nerve among some citizens worried about increasing surveillance. But others say the change is welcome and has been long-awaited.
Shenzhen, home to tech behemoths like Tencent and Huawei, recently announced that all registered dogs must be microchipped by the end of the year. The implantation process involves inserting an identification chip, the size of a grain of rice, under the skin – usually on the back of the neck. It can be completed within seconds, and the chip usually lasts for life.
Free implantation services are now available to registered dog owners at dozens of clinics, said the Shenzhen Urban Management Bureau. Owners who fail to microchip their dog before October will be subject to fines.
With the new move, the city joins Japan, the UK and some Australian states in mandating dog microchipping.
The practice is mostly designed to make it easier to reunite stray pets with owners. If a lost or stolen dog is found, the microchip can be scanned to reveal the owner’s name and contact information. But Shenzhen authorities said they also hope to discourage owners from abandoning their pets or engaging in other irresponsible behaviour.
While many social media users have expressed support, others said they are worried that the move may lead to increasing surveillance on humans.