China's wholly state-run media have suggested that Beijing's dog rules give it an edge over its rivals for 2008. The International Olympic Committee picks the host city on Friday.
"It's plain to see that wild dogs and mad dogs have become a potential drag on Paris' bid to host the Olympics," the official Liberation Daily newspaper said in a March article headlined: "Wild dogs, mad dogs run wild in the street. Paris must handle its dogs before hosting the games."
Police say the confiscated dogs are disposed of at pounds, but refuse to give details on how. Those who have retrieved their dogs from pounds say conditions in them are poor and many animals suffer from neglect. Dog advocates say they have never heard of dogs being offered for adoption.
Fifteen days in a Beijing dog pound left Lady, an unlicensed Pekinese, near death, malnourished and blind in one eye by infection, said her owner, Liang Jinfeng.
Liang paid 5,300 yuan to recover Lady and register her -- nearly five times her and her husband's combined monthly pensions of 1,100 yuan.
"When I got back, the neighbors all said `You might at least have got a decent looking one.' They just don't understand," said Liang, playing with Lady in the small courtyard of her home.
Angry owners demanding their dogs' return have protested outside police stations. Last year in Beijing, television station employees protested to demand the resignation of a policeman who killed an unregistered dog in front of its elderly owner.
Owners have formed informal networks to share information on police crackdowns and responsible pet care, and sent letters to city leaders urging more lenient rules.
"It's not that we don't love our country. We do, but the country is supposed to be moving ahead and in this area simply hasn't done enough," Liang said.
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