The number of dogs who have been vaccinated against rabies and other diseases tripled in the 13 months after the local government passed a series of regulations on keeping canines, local media reported Tuesday.

Zhang Xuebing, deputy head of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau, said at a conference Tuesday that more than 402,000 dogs were vaccinated in the city from May 2011 through June 2012, the Shanghai Evening Post reported.

Last May, the local government made vaccinations a requirement for obtaining a dog license. The Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau has since issued more than 265,000 dog licenses, an increase of about 90 percent, according to the report.

There are an estimated 600,000 dogs in Shanghai, including both licensed and unlicensed animals.

Vaccination is considered the easiest way to ensure a pet's good health and to prevent the transmission of diseases such as rabies, which is spread through dog bites. "The first thing that people should do after they get a dog is to make sure it gets mandatory vaccination shots. More and more people are becoming aware of just how important vaccinations are at preventing dangerous infectious canine diseases," said Lai Xiaoyu, deputy head of the Shanghai branch of the China Small Animal Protection Association.

About 120,000 people have been bitten by dogs each year since 2008, according to a report in Wenhui Daily, citing figures released by the Shanghai health authorities. However, there were only about six cases of rabies reported each year over the period.

The riskiest bites come from stray dogs that were abandoned by their owners, as it is unlikely they were vaccinated, Lai said.

"The main obstacle to controlling the dog population stems from the animals that aren't being cared for properly. There are still dog owners in the city who buy or raise dogs without thinking too much about how much care the animals need," Lai told the Global Times.

There are 164 locations in Shanghai where pet owners can get their dogs vaccinated, according to the report.

Dog owners can apply for dog licenses at the city's more than 300 police stations.