Taiwan would continue to build a society where animals and humans can coexist peacefully, President William Lai (賴清德) said today at the opening of the Asia for Animals (AfA) Conference in Taipei.
This is the first time that the AfA Coalition, a network of animal rights organizations across Asia, held its flagship conference in Taiwan, bringing together 600 experts from more than 30 countries.
Due to his background as a doctor, Lai said he has long paid attention to regulations around animal protection and care, particularly concerns about disease prevention.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
Under the Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan established its first Department of Animal Protection in 2023 with the aim of improving animal welfare — especially for performance animals — and cracking down on the illegal wildlife trade, he said.
The central government would continue to collaborate with local governments and private conservation groups to promote humane treatment of strays, promote ecological balance and strengthen animal welfare regulations, Lai added.
The country has pushed for a zero-euthanasia policy with regards to stray dogs and cats, Lai said, adding that during his time as Tainan mayor, the number of stray animals put down dropped from more than 12,000 to zero.
Leaders should set an example, he said, adding that instead of buying a pet, he adopted a three-legged dog named Ban Ban (斑斑).
A great nation must demonstrate care and respect for all life, not just its citizens and their property, Lai said.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Chief Veterinary Officer Tu Wen-jane (杜文珍) also attended the conference’s opening and spoke on the nation’s significant progress in animal welfare, Taiwan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals executive director Connie Chiang (姜怡如) said.
Tu spoke about recent changes to pet food regulations, amendments to the Wildlife Conservation Act (野生動物保育法) and eradicating several major swine-borne diseases, among other successes, Chiang said.
The conference is to run for three days from today to Thursday.
The 25th annual AfA conference is being held under the theme “reflection and breaking boundaries,” focusing on learning from past mistakes with an eye on improving future strategies.
This year’s edition is organized by the Environment and Animal Society of Taiwan, the Taiwan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Taiwan Human-Animal Studies Institute.
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