In anticipation of a new zero-euthanasia policy at all public animal shelters starting on Feb. 4 next year, the Council of Agriculture (COA) has proposed adding dogs and cats to people’s household registration records to facilitate regular inspections and to regulate the birth rates of cats and dogs.
Attending a meeting of the Legislative Yuan’s Finance Committee, Minister of Agriculture Tsao Chi-hung (曹啟鴻) said that there are “black holes” in the management of cats and dogs in different cities and counties, adding that with the difference in attitude of local governments, the issue of stray cats and dogs may become a nationwide problem.
The COA is mulling including cats and dogs in household registration records to make inspections more convenient, Tsao said, adding that only through such measures can the government regulate the animals and hold pet owners accountable.
Tsao said the measures would also offer a modicum of protection for both animals and the public should an outbreak of rabies occur.
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Tsai Pei-hui (蔡培慧) said that the COA must be aware that urban centers have a high percentage of residents who keep dogs or cats as pets, adding that the COA’s plans to include the inspection of pets in agriculture inspections might meet with some difficulties.
DPP Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said that regulation and management is key to controlling cat and dog populations, adding that the form that management takes is less important.
The COA might wish to adjust the funding of the zero-euthanasia policy, which is projected to be more than NT$1 billion (US$30.88 million), Hsiao said, adding that wider sterilization should be considered.
Such methods should not only be extended to owners of pets, but also to strays, Hsiao said.
Tsai cited to Control Yuan data and said that sterilization of animals rose from 3.6 percent in 2010 to 4.9 percent last year, adding that the percentage was still on the low side.
Some cities and counties offer subsidized sterilizations of pets, but the expense cannot be sustained by some local governments, Tsai said, adding that the COA should instead invest in encouraging the establishment of veterinary clinics that focus on sterilization.
Tsai said that as some breeding farms send some of their animals that do not have the desired traits to animal shelters, the COA should make the breeding farms subject to the regulations as well.
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