Chinese company wants 'dog' staff

China is preparing for the Year of the Dog

A Chinese human resources company has announced it would like its new staff to include plenty of "dogs".

Jilin Jiangshan Human Resources Development Company, in its recruitment advertisement, invited only people born in the Year of the Dog to apply.

A personnel manager for the company said those born in that particular Chinese astrological year tended to demonstrate qualities such as loyalty.

Chinese law forbids discrimination in employment but is vague in its terms.

"We believe that people born in dog years are born with some good characteristics such as loyalty and honesty," Mr Dong, personnel manager and himself a dog, told The Associated Press.

"As a human resource company, those characters are exactly what we need," he said.

According to the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Dog begins at the end of January, 2006. Those born in 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982 and 1994 were all born to this astrological sign.