A groundbreaking ceremony for a new building for the Taipei Animal Shelter and Taipei City Animal Protection Office was held yesterday, with construction scheduled to be completed in 2027 and open in 2028.
The city government began planning the construction of a new animal shelter in 2016, and after dealing with two failed tenders, finding a new location, urban planning, inflation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges, the groundbreaking ceremony was held in Neihu District (內湖) yesterday.
Taipei adopted a zero euthanasia policy in 2017, which led to the overcrowding of the old shelter, said the Taipei Public Works Department’s Geotechnical Engineering Office, which is entrusted with the construction project.
Photo: Ho Yu-hua, Taipei Times
The new four-story shelter would be the largest shelter in the nation, it added.
The project has a budget of NT$1.45 billion (US$44.11 million), including a NT$1.27 billion construction fee, and is scheduled to be completed in 1,140 days, the office said.
The first floor of the new shelter would be for medical diagnosis, treatment and quarantine, while animal adoption areas, such as spaces for visiting and interaction, and a coffee shop would be on the second floor, it said.
Animals would live on the third floor, where cats and dogs would be separated, while the Taipei City Animal Protection Office would occupy the fourth floor, which is expected to improve management efficiency and make public consultations more convenient, the office said.
The new animal shelter is important for animal protection and welfare, and is a concrete representation of Taipei as a sustainable city, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said, referencing the saying: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
The building would also have recreational facilities for animals, he said, adding that there would be an air-conditioning system to improve the smell, soundproofing for noise control and an exercise space.
Animal Protection Office Commissioner Chen Ying-hao (陳英豪) said the core aim of the animal shelter reconstruction project is to accelerate and increase pet adoption rates.
Chen said they had visited animal shelters in Europe, and designed the new shelter with animal welfare and needs as their priority.
Hopefully it can also serve as an educational venue for visitors, Chen added.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
RSS