Pets and stray animals in urban areas should take compulsive vaccination to protect residents from contracting diseases, Chinese lawmakers said on Saturday.

Members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) said the epidemic prevention of pets and stray animals should be emphasized.

They made the suggestion during their deliberation on the draft amendment to the law of animal epidemic prevention at the ongoing 29th session of the NPC Standing Committee.

Chen Zhangliang, a member of the NPC Standing Committee, suggested the draft amendment add an item to stipulate the epidemic prevention of pets.

"It's a problem of great concern as more and more people have been raising pets in their communities," Chen said.

NPC Standing Committee member Yang Changhuai said the draft should include provisions on hygiene problems caused by pets' urine and excrement in public places.

Dao Meilan, another member of NPC Standing Committee, agreed the suggestion, adding that many diseases were spread in this way.

"The law should have more detailed and systematic stipulations on the prevention of diseases caused by animals, especially pets," Dao said.

In Beijing alone, more than 703,800 dogs were registered as of Aug. 7 this year, according to the municipal administrative office for dog raising.

However, the total number of dogs including those unregistered might be bigger.

The growing number of dogs gave rise to "a string of social problems", such as dog excrement, loud barking, growing number of abandoned and stray dogs, and more attacks on human beings by dogs, local authorities said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 26, 2007)