(Source：Designed by Lizstar)
Views of Taipei City Government
Plan goals: In order to create an animal-friendly city, Taipei City has launched the "Animal-friendly City Action Plan" with 10 major goals. Through a complete plan from the source to the end, and by combining the power of civic groups, Taipei City will become an animal-friendly city where people and animals coexist in harmony.
Plan contents: The current Animal Protection Act stipulates that all pets must be neutered unless they have been declared to the authorities for breeding needs. Taipei City is now moving toward counseling operators to establish a list of owners after the sale, for proactively tracking dogs for pet registration and neutering. A 5-mile, 3-school household dog survey in addition to the owners will be conducted on a trial basis, with mandatory pet registration, microchipping and de-sexing of household dogs, for the gradual expansion throughout the city. In order to provide better interaction and development between humans and animals, Taipei City holds a 6-week free animal behavior seminar in July and September, in conjunction with community colleges, to teach proper breeding practices and animal behavior, and assist owners in creating an animal-friendly environment at home.
Animal friendly: Taipei City is planning to add a second large dog park in 2016 in order to provide more space for the dogs to play and move around, and five neighborhood parks are planned to have animal spaces for dogs to run around. It is also actively promoting animal-friendly stores, establishing "animal-friendly store counseling mechanism" and "animal-friendly store label" so that more restaurants, amusement parks and public places allow pets to enter.
Source control: In order to ensure that dogs sold in pet stores are well cared for, Taipei City has taken the initiative to outlaw unlicensed dog sales on the internet, at night markets and in stores, and has made it mandatory for businesses to microchip all dogs they display or sell to track the origin of their pets. Any dog sold without a microchip or from an illegal source is subject to a fine of NTD 40,000 to NTD 200,000, and unlicensed dog sales are subject to a fine of NTD 50,000 to NTD 250,000. In order to effectively deter abandonment, the Animal Protection Act has increased the fine from NTD 30,000 to NTD 150,000 and prohibits the breeding and adoption of pets of the owner with a fine of NTD 50,000 if the abandonment is serious. In addition, in conjunction with the video surveillance equipment at street entrances of the city police department and the expansion of the existing "Taipei City Animal Adoption App" to include an online reporting function for abandoned animals, as well as a reward for reporting the abandonment of animals, there is no way for the people who abandon animals to hide.Plan goals: In order to create an animal-friendly city, Taipei City has launched the "Animal-friendly City Action Plan" with 10 major goals. Through a complete plan from the source to the end, and by combining the power of civic groups, Taipei City will become an animal-friendly city where people and animals coexist in harmony.
Views of Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan
According to the Council of Agriculture, as the social structure changes, the number of people and households with pets is increasing year by year, and the function of pets as companions of family or people is also significantly important. However, the tension or conflict between the public, animals and the environment is often heard, for example, pets urinate and defecate anywhere and owners do not clean them, pets rush out and scare neighbors' children, pets are allowed to bark and disturb neighbors, etc. The root of the problems lies in the failure of a few pet owners to fulfill their responsibilities as pet owners and supervisors. These problems need to be regulated by the legal system, and the amendment of the Condominium Administration Act Building Administration Division should be considered and agreed upon by both sides, so that people, animals and the environment can coexist in harmony.
Views of Ministry of Education
More and more schools are promoting animal life education through "School Dogs, School Cats". Through the group power and ingenuity of the students, stray animals can be lovingly cared for and incorporated into life education-related courses, clubs or competitions, making learning more integrated with real life. The K-12 Education Administration, Ministry of Education continues to support schools to promote the related programs, and 82 schools were subsidized to adopt more than 500 dogs and cats in 2019. In the future, it will continue to promote the program and encourage more schools to join the ranks of animal life care education. In order to promote animal care and life education, the K-12 Education Administration, Ministry of Education is encouraging schools to adopt stray animals through the “Program for Subsidizing Local Government and National and Private Senior High Schools for Animal Care and Life Education". Schools are encouraged to adopt stray animals and integrate animal protection into the school life education curriculum, establish animal protection-related clubs, cultivate students' responsibility in raising animals and getting along with animals, and implement the Animal Protection Act to promote the spirit of loving animals and respecting life.
Most of the stray animals adopted by the school are dogs and cats. After careful care, the original stray dogs and cats have become healthy, cute "school cats and dogs" and have developed a strong bond with the students. The school cat “Mimi" of National Lo-Tung Commercial Vocational High School was originally an abandoned stray kitten, but was found by students on campus one day. They reported it to the school and cleaned and cared for it. After the discussion, the students named him "Mimi". Gradually, "Mimi" became the students' favorite "school cat". In order to create a friendly environment for students to learn about life education, National Lo-Tung Commercial Vocational High School not only teaches students to take care of animals, but also holds lectures and encourages students to create related topics through multimedia such as text, images, and photography. For example, a poster design competition for animal protection was held in conjunction with life education and school concerts, creating life-affirming works with various animal elements. The posters were also used as the cover of the concert booklet, allowing the audience to enjoy the music and feel the students' respect for life. In terms of club activities, the students of the school magazine are also using the theme of "Mimi" to document the interaction between "Mimi" and the students in writing and photography, and the publication was well received.
The 12-year National Education Curriculum has plans for animal protection education, including "respect and cherish life", "social care and service", and "environmental conservation and sustainability". Schools can plan related courses through the curriculum of integrated activity areas. Through curriculum design and teaching, as well as community resources and parental participation, students can be guided to explore the changes and development of animal life and learn to respect life in the campus and community. Students can also be encouraged to form clubs to explore animal conservation from a student perspective. For example, The Affiliated High School of National Chengchi University has established an "Animal Rights Communication Club" to organize a series of lectures and give presentations at elementary schools to spread the concept of animal care, visit private animal protection groups, and help take care of stray animals to implement the meaning of animal protection through action. According to the K-12 Education Administration, animal life education is an indispensable part of modern citizenship, and the attitude toward animals is often regarded as an important indicator of civilization. The Ministry of Education will continue to work with the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan and private animal protection groups to implement animal life education in schools, so that students can deepen their literacy of respect for life.
