A policeman carries a stray dog in Jinan, East China's Shandong province, April 15, 2012. [Photo/Asianewsphoto]

A campaign to tighten control on illegal pet-raising behavior is underway across Jinan, the capital city of Shandong province.

On Sunday alone, an operation involving more than 1,000 policemen rounded up 58 unlicensed dogs. They were taken to the city's dog shelters, where they were to be held until their owners picked them up, according to Qilu Evening News.

Police fined 17 owners who committed illegal pet-raising behaviors such as walking with unleashed dogs, and 160 stray dogs were sent to shelters, according to the report.

Unlicensed dog owners whose pets have been seized can get them back by paying a 2,000 yuan ($316) fine, according to police.

The Jinan city government gave unlicensed dog owners a two-month window last year to apply for a pet license from the local public security authority without being fined.

Large dogs such as the Tibetan Mastiff are prohibited in the urban area of Jinan. If these dogs are discovered by police, owners will be fined 2,000 yuan and the dogs will be confiscated, according to Jinan security authority.

The crackdown on illegal pet-raising behavior will continue for several months to encourage dog owners to raise their animals properly, according to Ning Li, a policeman from the Jinan public security authority.

In Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province, 49 species of large-size dogs are prohibited in urban areas, according to the city’s dog-raising regulations. These species include mild tempered dogs such as golden retrievers and Labradors, Xinhua News Agency reported.