A ban on euthanizing stray animals is to be implemented on Feb.4 which would see abandoned pets or animals born as strays no longer being put to death if they are not adopted from government-run shelters.
Last year, about 70,000 animals ended up at the shelters and each year about 10,000 are put down when they are not adopted, while several thousand more die from other causes, such as injuries and illnesses.
The ban comes after the government has long been criticized for not doing enough to deal with the nation’s pet abandonment problem, but over the years, many unsung heroes have been quietly giving their time and energy to helping stray animals.
One of them, Briton Liza Milne, 42, has lived in Taiwan since she was 20. She works as an English teacher, but spends her spare time as an animal rescuer and volunteer at shelters run by non-governmental organizations that save and care for stray animals.
For about 11 years she has volunteered as chairperson, events and sponsorship coordinator and a rescuer at Animals Taiwan — a non-governmental organization that has saved hundreds of sick or injured stray dogs and cats — by finding them homes.
It also cares for up to 70 of them awaiting adoption at its shelter.
Last year, Milne also became a full-time volunteer for Mary’s Doggies, a shelter that rescues strays and finds homes for them in the US or Canada.
Council of Agriculture officials said they are increasing the budget for animal control workers to spay and neuter strays, as well as enforcing microchip rules.
All government-run shelters would require anyone who wants to abandon their pet to pay a fee, although the fee is relatively small in many cases, the council said.
Advocates say much more needs to be done to encourage pet owners to spay or neuter their animals and to fine them if they do not.
Three batches of banana sauce imported from the Philippines were intercepted at the border after they were found to contain the banned industrial dye Orange G, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday. From today through Sept. 2 next year, all seasoning sauces from the Philippines are to be subject to the FDA’s strictest border inspection, meaning 100 percent testing for illegal dyes before entry is allowed, it said in a statement. Orange G is an industrial coloring agent that is not permitted for food use in Taiwan or internationally, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the FDA’s Northern Center for
The Chinese military has built landing bridge ships designed to expand its amphibious options for a potential assault on Taiwan, but their combat effectiveness is limited due to their high vulnerability, a defense expert said in an analysis published on Monday. Shen Ming-shih (沈明室), a research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, said that the deployment of such vessels as part of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy’s East Sea Fleet signals a strong focus on Taiwan. However, the ships are highly vulnerable to precision strikes, which means they could be destroyed before they achieve their intended
LOOKING NORTH: The base would enhance the military’s awareness of activities in the Bashi Channel, which China Coast Guard ships have been frequenting, an expert said The Philippine Navy on Thursday last week inaugurated a forward operating base in the country’s northern most province of Batanes, which at 185km from Taiwan would be strategically important in a military conflict in the Taiwan Strait. The Philippine Daily Inquirer quoted Northern Luzon Command Commander Lieutenant General Fernyl Buca as saying that the base in Mahatao would bolster the country’s northern defenses and response capabilities. The base is also a response to the “irregular presence this month of armed” of China Coast Guard vessels frequenting the Bashi Channel in the Luzon Strait just south of Taiwan, the paper reported, citing a
UNDER PRESSURE: The report cited numerous events that have happened this year to show increased coercion from China, such as military drills and legal threats The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aims to reinforce its “one China” principle and the idea that Taiwan belongs to the People’s Republic of China by hosting celebratory events this year for the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, the “retrocession” of Taiwan and the establishment of the UN, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said in its latest report to the Legislative Yuan. Taking advantage of the significant anniversaries, Chinese officials are attempting to assert China’s sovereignty over Taiwan through interviews with international news media and cross-strait exchange events, the report said. Beijing intends to reinforce its “one China” principle
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