At least 39,000 Shenzheners were bitten by pet dogs and cats last year, the municipal disease prevention and control center (CDC) said Tuesday.

The actual number of people attacked by dogs and cats could be even higher, as the CDC only recorded the number of victims who sought treatment, said Li Jin, an official of the CDC, yesterday.

The city's animal epidemic inspection and quarantine station will vaccinate pet dogs and cats against rabies free of charge at the Culture Square (Wenhua Guangchang) in the Xiangmihu area Saturday.

People can also take their pets there for free health checkup on the day.

Animal epidemic prevention authorities at different levels will provide free rabies shots to pet dogs and cats in April and September each year. Cats and dogs are easily excited between March and May, said doctors with the CDC. If people are bitten by rabid dogs or cats but not treated in time, they will develop full-blown rabies within 50 to 60 days, and die.

If people are bitten by cats or dogs, they should wash the cuts with clean water within three hours and get an anti-rabies injection within 48 hours, doctors say.

In another development, the provincial legislature is currently reviewing a Shenzhen draft regulation on the management of pet dogs.

The draft allows the government to charge 300 yuan (US$40) annually for each pet dog. Shenzhen now charges 2,000 yuan annually for each pet dog.

As a result, most pet owners do not register with the government.

(Shenzhen Daily March 31, 2006)