Taipei is a dog-loving city, filled with parks and pet shops, pet barbers and taxis who will willingly transport your canine. There are even pet cafes. This city is begging people to invite furry love into their lives.
But there is an underbelly to all this puppy love: shelters. In 2011, 112,051 dogs and cats were reportedly placed in government shelters throughout Taiwan. Only 20.35 percent of these animals were adopted; 57.9 percent were euthanized, according to the Council of Agriculture.
However, the management of government shelters has improved and today thousands of animals are listed for adoption online. But their profiles can often be tragic. Overbred dogs that have grotesque deformations and aggressive personalities. Abused animals that cower in cement cells. Injured dogs dumped in alleys to die. Animals that have been surrendered because they are old, sick and no longer cute.
Photo: Deirdre Yeo, Taipei Times
The more I read the more I wanted to bring each one home.
I researched the Formosan mountain dog, a native breed common to most street dogs. They are a medium-sized dog with a lean body and are known to be loyal, active, affectionate and smart. They can bounce from a standing start up to 150cm. If you fall for one of these dogs, learn about them. Discipline is a must because they crave your leadership so they can be confident and affectionate.
As I was scrolling online, Xiaoxiao (小小) grabbed my attention with her white-gold coat, black nose and floppy Labrador ears; she is a three-year-old Formosan mountain-dog-bitsa found on the streets and had been housed at the Neihu shelter for six months.
Photo: Deirdre Yeo, Taipei Times
BLIND DATE
On arrival, I was met by an English-speaking volunteer. I showed her the profile number for Xiaoxiao, and I was led into the equivalent of dog purgatory. The cement-floored kennels each house about 4 to 6 dogs. They barked wildly and clawed at the high wire fences as we passed. Xiaoxiao was in a cage at the very back of the warehouse-sized building. It is recommended that you wear covered shoes when visiting the shelter.
“Is this the right one?” the volunteer asked.
I nodded, and she guided my potential companion from the cage and through the throng. (The cages are clean and the animals are in good condition considering the circumstances.)
Part of the adoption process is a compatibility session: spending some time together, playing and perhaps even falling in love. We went outside and Xiaoxiao was released in a caged basketball court with two other puppies that were being shown off for adoption.
She sniffed, bounced and explored. The volunteer said she hadn’t met Xiaoxiao before, but said she was a gentle and well-behaved dog. I wanted an active, friendly dog; loyal and adventurous. I waited for a sign from Xiaoxiao that she wanted my affection, but none was forthcoming. She would pass me by, giving her attention to the volunteer, even after taking treats from my hand. It was a hot day, so after 30 minutes we went back inside.
We sat and Xiaoxiao paced, anxious and confused, her tail tucked firmly between her legs. She didn’t seem interested in me. She cowered when I tried to pat her. I began to lose hope that she was right for me. It was closing time. We’d spent an hour together, and as I said goodbye Xiaoxiao finally let me touch her. I wanted to adopt her on the spot but my gut told me to be patient.
TIPS FOR ADOPTING
After four days of rationalizing, I went to adopt Xiaoxiao on a Saturday.
To adopt you need an ARC with 12 months validity and you fill out various forms in Chinese, which the staff help you with. I also used a translator app. If after 30 days the relationship is not working you can return your adoptee to the shelter and pay a fee of NT$2,000.
There are apartment regulations and a limit of seven dogs per residence. Another condition is that if the original owner of the animal wants to re-claim them, you must surrender the animal. The shelter reserves the right to visit you and your new pet in your home. Even with a language barrier, the whole process is easy and takes 30 minutes.
The shelter provides a rabies vaccination, a bag of dog food and a member card that entitles your new companion to free rabies vaccinations for 3 years. All dogs and cats are de-sexed and have a physical exam before leaving. It is all free of charge.
The paperwork done, Xiaoxiao was presented to me. She looked up with trepidation, I was given her leash and the receptionist took our photo and called us a taxi.
I could wax lyrical about the blossoming love between me and Sugar (she would cower at the sound of her Chinese name, so I chose a different one), and how that storm clouding her eyes blew over in only 12 hours. My home is filled with warmth. I am excited to get home and sad to leave. She accompanies me to bars and cafes, and we spend hours in the sunshine and the rain running in the park, playing in mud and swimming in rivers.
CARING FOR YOUR CANINE
As an expat I had other questions like what do I do if I go away? What if I need to move? Know the answers to these questions before you adopt, because if you are inviting a creature into your life, it is for a lifetime. In my case, as Sugar has all her vaccinations I can transport her to my native country with a 10-day quarantine. I am fortunate to have made many kind friends who on meeting Sugar offered to housesit with her.
Pet adoption in Taiwan is easy. If you are seriously committed to a life here and you want to share that life with a furry friend, look into adoption. There are thousands of horror stories of overbred dogs and puppy factories in Taiwan. Stories of abused and abandoned animals abound.
Seeing my best friend run off a leash running through grass for the first time since she was sheltered made me smile like a child. Knowing that Sugar will never sleep in a cement cell again, that she will never want for food, affection, exercise or love fills my heart with the patter of paws. I am whole with my best friend Sugar, a lifelong addiction.
For more information on how to adopt a dog, visit: english.tcapo.gov.taipei.
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