(CN) Dogs, pigs and trees in Shanghai

[Guest guest]

South China Morning Post

http://columns.scmp.com/colart/sbrief/ZZZVQ29XCYC.html

Thursday, March 14, 2002

 

Trees on alert as potbelly critters rise up to take dogs off streets

by WILLIAM KAZER

 

Some of you may have failed to notice that Tuesday marked China's Tree

Planting Day. There is no need to get embarrassed. This was a small

oversight. Just try to be more alert next time.

 

For those who missed out on this annual event, let me state that, as its

name implies, it is a time to plant trees or shrubs.

 

It is the one day in the year that we try to make those rubbish heaps around

our cities look a bit greener. Planting a tree amid those plastic bags,

empty cigarette packs and discarded computer parts gives the concrete jungle

a far more natural look.

 

Tree Planting Day is also an important occasion for any cadre worthy of a

" three representatives " study session. Party faithful join the city's

schoolchildren and shovel a bit of dirt in this worthy effort, often

accompanied by scores of official photographers.

 

Some of you may feel I am leading you down the garden path, but the

discussion of trees leads me to the subject of pets in mainland cities.

 

In Shanghai, as with urban centres elsewhere, trees are appreciated for more

than aesthetic reasons. A tree can have far more practical uses,

particularly when we look at the everyday problems of man's best friend.

 

While it is not clear if any of the officials seen gracing the front page of

our newspapers had dogs in mind while digging into the dark Shanghai soil,

it is worth noting that if the grass grows greener near a tree in your

neighbourhood, there could be a valid reason.

 

From the tree's point of view, the dog population is a nuisance. Unable to

take flight, the tree has to just grin and bear it when canines answer a

call of nature.

 

But due to Shanghai's hounding of offenders in its campaign to stamp out

dog-do, the trees may be winning the battle. Last week, Shanghai's police

staged a city-wide sweep to uncover dogs technically not supposed to be on

the streets.

 

A police officer said: " We rounded up at least 70 of them. " In most cases,

the dogs were not strays. Their owners were fined 200 yuan (about HK$187.40)

and told not to take their canine pets outdoors.

 

There was no word on what fate awaited dogs with no master, however.

 

Despite the success in this battle to keep dogs off the street, there seems

to be a threat from an unexpected quarter these days. Many Shanghai

residents, denied the chance to lavish attention on a dog, have apparently

taken a fancy to pigs. These are not the pigs you often see on the back of

an open truck, snout pressed forlornly against a metal grating as they head

off to a nearby market.

 

These are a miniature variety known as potbellied pigs. Many of them are

imported from Japan - and perhaps this is one of the first tangible

advantages seen from the market opening measures since China joined the

World Trade Organisation.

 

For those who wish to take advantage of this development, the

top-of-the-line model costs 2,000 to 3,000 yuan. A local newspaper helpfully

notes this is enough money to buy a mobile phone.

 

I might add that it is extremely difficult to receive incoming or make

outgoing calls on these miniature pigs, even though they weigh more than the

average mobile phone these days.

 

Of course, there are less expensive varieties for those who have trouble

bringing home the bacon. A miniature pig raised with cheaper domestic

labour, usually in Yunnan or Guangdong, would fetch a far more affordable

400 to 900 yuan.

 

The miniature pigs are easy to care for, according to those who would like

you to buy one.

 

Zhang Li, who runs a small pet shop in central Shanghai, said: " They'll eat

anything. They won't bite and they don't bark. "

 

Unlike their larger cousins, the miniature pigs are also said to be clean.

And as with dogs, they can be trained to do things that display their

unusual talents.

 

" You can get them to roll a ball with their nose, " Ms Zhang said. .

 

The potbellies are said to grow to about 5kg and then they innately realise

it is time to go on a diet.

 

I was unable to determine whether any of Ms Zhang's miniature pigs had sworn

off Big Macs in favour of a healthy salad, so I am afraid I cannot confirm

this information.

 

However, I can attest to the fact that these cute little pets are referred

to as " fragrant pigs " in Shanghai. This is probably an effort to distinguish

them from the larger and not-so-fragrant variety.

 

This might not be so pleasing to the little critters and their owners if

they were aware of how some savvy marketing executives in Taiwan have

convinced the public to accept the term " fragrant meat " . Consumers there can

enjoy a hearty meal and not be reminded that it might be Fido or Lassie that

they are swallowing.

 

For the time being, the miniature pigs seem to be off the police radar

screen. Asked if it was acceptable to take a miniature pig for a walk on a

Shanghai street, a police official said: " No one will bother you if you do. "

So my advice to Shanghai's trees is this - stay vigilant.