Two Tibetan mastiffs charge tens of thousands of dollars for sex. Convoys of luxury cars, driven by fans, greet the most expensive studs at airports. Meet the canine gigolos -- the purebred Tibetan mastiffs that have become the latest symbol of China’s growing wealth.

    Pet ownership is booming, but no breed carries the cachet of the Tibetan mastiff, which can weigh up to 180 pounds. Last month, a Nanjing breeder paid 234,000 yuan for his purebred pooch, reported the Yangtze Evening Times. Last September, a young woman in Xian paid 600,000 yuan for her pet, according to the Xian Evening News. Both led airport welcomes with long convoys of pricey automobiles.

    “It’s like gambling, as people think they can earn large sums from expensive dogs, but the reality is that it is very hard to breed a top quality purebred Tibetan Mastiff,” said Beijing breeder Zhao Yanjun.

    Others buy to show off their status. “Like men around the world, Chinese like to own big dogs as it shows ‘I am successful, I want to dominate,’” said Mr. Zhao.

    In America, $5,000 is the upper limit for a show quality puppy, said Martha Feltenstein, president of the American Tibetan Mastiff Association. In China, prices have leapt last year amid a nationwide “Tibetan mastiff fever” that shows little sign of cooling.

    The dog has changed Mr. Zhao’s fortunes. The former chicken farmer, 48, bought his first Tibetan mastiff in 1990 and earns up to $440,000 a year at his Oriental Treasure breeding center near Beijing.

    “The number one threat to companion animals is the lack of animal welfare legislation in this country,” said Jeff He, China communication manager for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

    Respect for animal rights is growing, said Qin Xiaona, chairwoman of Beijing’s Capital Animal Welfare Association, but the absence of laws slows progress, she cautioned. Ms. Qin opposes the Tibetan Mastiff craze. “They are wild animals and we should send them back to their habitat,” she said.

     Source: USA Today

   藏獒热折射中国人财富观

     有两只藏骜，配种的价格高达几万美元。人们用豪华车队在机场迎接这种最昂贵的狗。纯种藏獒成了中国财富增长的最新象征。

     在中国，饲养宠物十分流行。饲养体重可达180磅的藏獒最能显示身份。《扬子晚报》报道，上个月一个南京人花了23万多元给他的纯种藏獒配种。《西安晚报》报道，一位年轻的西安女子9月份花了60万元给她的宠物藏獒配种。这两个人都动用了由豪华车组成的车队前往机场迎接。

     北京饲养者赵严军(音)说：“这就像赌博，有些人认为能靠饲养名贵的狗挣大钱，但事实上饲养纯种藏獒难度很大。”

     另外一些人买藏獒是为了显示地位。赵严军(音)说：“就像世界其他国家的人一样，中国人喜欢养大狗，因为这说明‘我是成功人士，我想拥有更多权力’。

     美国藏獒协会会长玛沙·菲尔汀斯坦说，美国的观赏犬最贵不过5000美元。由于中国一片“藏獒热”，去年藏獒的身价暴涨，而且看不到降温的迹象。

     藏獒改变了赵严军的命运。

     48岁的赵严军以前经营过养鸡场，1990年购买了第一只藏獒，目前他在北京的养殖场每年靠提供藏獒配种获得44万美元的收入。

     国际爱护动物基金会的中国联络经理杰夫何说：“对宠物的头号威胁是中国缺乏动物保护法规”。

     北京野生动物协会负责人秦小娜（音）认为，在中国，对动物权益的尊重在增加，但法律的缺失使得进展缓慢。她反对“藏獒热”，认为“它们是野生动物，应该让藏獒回归生长的土地。”