Active-duty service dogs are to be provided insurance, with premiums fully subsidized by the Ministry of Agriculture, the ministry told a news conference in Taipei today.
Nan Shan General Insurance Co has launched a specialized insurance policy for active-duty service dogs in public agencies that costs NT$13,374 per dog per year, company general manager Lin I-hsiao(林宜孝) said.
It would cover up to five outpatient visits per year, hospitalization, surgery and funeral costs, Lin said.
Photo: CNA
The policy would be open for enrollment in September, while the Regulations for the Care and Management of Government Working Dogs (政府部門執勤犬照護管理規則) would be amended in January next year, making insurance mandatory, Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih (陳駿季) said.
Coverage would later be expanded to include medical expenses for retired dogs and search-and-rescue dogs, and the government might consider partial subsidies for them, Chen said.
As of March, Taiwan had 292 active-duty service dogs in government agencies, used for search and rescue, drug and disease detection, and assistance in police and military operations, he said.
Despite playing a crucial role in public safety, border inspection, drug enforcement and disaster response, insurers have excluded working dogs from pet insurance as they are not considered “pets,” Chen said.
The most common medical issue for service dogs is heatstroke, and working in disaster zones can often result in respiratory problems, Taiwan Working Dog Association chairperson Kuan Hsin-ling (關心羚) said.
Some dogs even develop cancer and their treatment can be costly, so medical insurance would provide much-needed care in light of public agencies' limited budgets, she said.
Service dogs usually begin working at age two to three and retire after four to seven years of service, Kuan said.
Post-retirement benefits are minimal at present, offering only pet food after their adoption, she said, adding that the government has a responsibility to ensure their health and dignity even after retirement.
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