One-dog rule begins to bite

SHANGHAI city authorities have this week begun implementing a "one-dog policy" to crack down on an estimated 600,000 unregistered dogs in China's financial hub.

The number of strays has spiked as pets are abandoned. Soiling of public spaces has also increased, as have complaints from neighbours not partial to canines in tenement blocks.

Those who already have more than one licensed dog will be able to keep them, but for new applications, only those from households without puppies will be accepted.