Caring for our pets and for all other animals

The large number of pet-owning households and vast selection of pet-related merchandise on sale in Taiwan is clear evidence of the pet industry’s popularity here. Recently, Taiwan Animal Equality Association made a special visit to a pet show, where it set up stalls to promote the concept of animal care. The association aims to instill in pet owners a sense of concern for not only one’s own pets but also for stray animals.

One volunteer explained that Taiwan’s streets are awash with stray animals, the majority of which have been abandoned by their owners. People should respect the right to life and adopt animals instead of buying them, they added. The volunteer went on to say that the inhumane attitude of some owners in caging or chaining animals is totally unacceptable, stressing that though pet dogs and stray dogs are both dogs, they have been dealt a very different hand in life.

Though animal welfare in Taiwan has improved, it clearly still has a long way to go and needs more people to get involved.

以下為中英文對照

    台灣養寵物的人口眾多，各種和寵物相關的商品販售也大受歡迎，動物平權促進會特別到寵物展中，設置攤位宣導愛護動物的理念，希望寵物飼主不只關心自家的寵物，也能關心流浪動物。

      志工表示，台灣街頭會有許多流浪狗，大部分都是被飼主棄養，民眾應該要尊重動物的生存權，並且以認養代替購買。另外有些飼主養狗的觀念不正確，會把狗關在籠中或是用鐵鍊拴起來，這都是相當不人道的對待。寵物犬、流浪犬，同樣是狗命運大不同，台灣的動保教育需要更多人一起來投入。