*This chapter was written in conjunction with Karuna Rescue, the largest foreigner-run dog shelter in Shenzhen, which sends an average of five rescued dogs to new homes abroad each week.

Importing your pet
Foreigners are permitted to bring one pet to China per person per trip. Additional pets can be imported as manifest cargo under different documentation and cost requirements.

Pet registration and laws (dogs only)
Shenzhen requires all dog owners to register their dogs with the district bureau in which they live by applying for and obtaining a canine I.D. card. Different districts have different requirements, but generally this involves filling out a one-page application form, providing a correctly-formatted photo of the dog, and a copy of your passport ID page and rental agreement.
In some districts, veterinary clinics can assist in this process by delivering your documents and obtaining your dog s ID card on your behalf. In other districts, you will be required to hand deliver the materials at the relevant office. To clarify the requirements for your district, it is advised to inquire at the nearest veterinary clinic. Veterinary clinics have numerous locations throughout Shenzhen and are easy to locate on map apps.

Pet-friendly public spaces
As of August 2020, Shenzhen has one free-entry public pet park, which opened in February 2019 in Futian District at Jingtian North Sixth Street Park. The park includes both a fenced lawn and an unfenced lawn where pets are welcome.
Across the city, dog owners are free to gather with their dogs at public spaces, such as low- traffic parking lots, streets and mall courtyards, in the mornings and evenings.
There are no official rules banning the walking of dogs or any other pets anywhere in the city. Certain breeds of dogs, however, are banned. As the list of banned breeds is subject to change, inquire at your nearest vet about breeds.

Pet accommodations
In China, animals are not permitted to ride on the quickest and cheapest modes of transportation like high-speed trains and buses. Luckily there are a number of options for service providers who can ensure your pet1 s care and safety while you travel.
Kennels with yards (dogs): These types of kennels provide your pet with a small room to live in as well as a large courtyard where he/she will play twice a day with the other dogs staying there. Prices range from as little as 50RMB up to 250RMB per day. Kennels can also pick up and drop off your dog for a fee.
XTRM Gogo Park (Longhua): 13902907201,13510141441
Xinleyuan Pet Club (Xili): 18928486267,13728885899
Pet hotels (dogs, cats and more)： Pet hotels provide your pet with a small 11 suite" furnished with basics like a mat or kitty condo for your petto live in. Staff will walk your dog, but a yard for running and playing is not attached.
Pet's Zone (Shekou): 0755-26853266
Pet-sitting services (cats, dogs and more): Pet-sitters can be found via pet-sitting platform Spare Leash. It facilitates the search between pet-sitters and pet owners by providing profiles, reviews and cost-setting for both parties.
WeChat: SpareLeash (Nation-wide)
Veterinary clinics (cats, dogs and more): Veterinary clinics are aplenty in Shenzhen, with at least one per square kilometer, and they also provide boarding services for pets. However, the pet will typically be confined to a metal cage with little space and no padding. Prices range from as low as 40RMB upto 100RMB.

Pet adoption
Shenzhen, and China as a whole, has a unique pet acquisition ecosystem. There is an abundance of animal welfare shelters and similar organizations from which animals of all species and breeds are available for free adoption. Animals from such organizations are typically fully vaccinated and in full health before being made available for adoption. While pet stores selling animals can be found around the city, they are unregulated and many animals are sold at a premature age and unvaccinated.
To browse pets up for adoption, inquire about pet adoption WeChat groups. One of the largest such groups is Karuna Rescue, which can be contacted via WeChat at karunarescue@outlook.com. As a norm, interested persons are required to fill out an application in order to qualify for adoption.

Pet supplies
In Shenzhen, veterinary clinics commonly have storefronts stocked with basic cat and dog supplies, and since clinics also provide comprehensive pet care services, including grooming and boarding, in addition to veterinary services, they are even easier to find in many areas than ordinary pet stores. Supermarkets like Walmart and Carrefour also carry dog and cat food, treats, toys and other basic necessities.
However, for the full range of pet supplies available in China, online sellers found on the popular shopping platforms Taobao, TMall and Pinduoduo have cheaper prices than storefronts and larger stock, On these platforms, every pet care item from A to Z including various types of hays and food pellets for herbivorous pets, can be sourced.

Exporting your pet from China
Just as with importing a petto China, the costs and requirements for exporting a pet out of China differ depending on airline, pet type and destination. See karunarescue.com and search online for the latest regulations.