New Taipei City Animal Protection Law in Pipeline

[Omniloquacious]

I found this interesting report online this morning, about New Taipei City Government’s plans to draft a new set of animal protection laws. It appears to be a very encouraging step in the right direction.

At the current stage of drafting, it includes the following provisions:

1. Anyone buying a dog from a pet shop will have to attend a two-hour “life education class” (covering assessment of pet- owner’s capabilities, how to feed pets, introduction to common illnesses, etc.)

2. A pet shop owner who secretly sells a dog and tries to evade this requirement will be subject to a fine of NT$15,000.

3. The city will establish an “animal protection police” unit, charged with investigating cases of abuse or abandonment of animals. Offenders will be forced to attend classes and face a fine of up to NT$300,000.

4. The city will set up three “pet welfare vehicles” to tour around providing such services as inoculation, inserting chips, registering pets, and disposing of dead animals, free of charge.

The new law is currently being drafted, and if passed by the city council, could come into force before the end of the year (at the earliest). If you care about this issue and think the law is a good idea, you could email your city councilor to voice your support for it, to help put pressure on the council to pass it.

[Icon]

Awesome news! Steps in a good direction.

If they added an obligation for all pets to be sold chipped, I'd be the happiest woman on Earth. Fine for not complying should be twice the price of the pet, i.e. 15K for pet, 30K if not chipped.

If they are sold already chipped, there are no excuses for strays.

[Omniloquacious]

Good idea, Icon. Write to New Taipei City Government to suggest it?

[finley]

I saw an advertisement playing on the MRT TVs that suggested this already exists? Anyway, if it comes to pass and actually receives funding/public support/capable employees, sounds like an excellent idea ... perhaps other areas will observe the benefits and implement something similar.

[Ex Animo]

It is indeed a huge step in the right direction! Thanks for posting.

[Belgian Pie]

They should teach people to keep their dogs under control, any time, any where and don't let them roam the streets unleashed. And the opposite, keeping dogs in really small cages day in, day out, with mountains of shit under it ... come on!

I mean, people in Taiwan go really lightly about 'owning' a dog and have no understanding about dogs ... for example, a woman in my building comes and goes with her dog unleashed and the dog runs off every time until she catches it ... and then she wants me, with my two dogs in a 1 sq m elevator ... my dogs, with a another strange dog in the same containment

[Omniloquacious]

There's one other important detail that I omitted to mention: The "pet welfare vehicles" will also cooperate with animal protection organizations in carrying out neutering of dogs and cats in remote areas.