TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taipei City Animal Protection Office (台北市動保處) announced plans on Thursday (July 11) to improve the environment of the Taipei Animal Shelter (北市動物之家) by the end of July. This initiative is in response to criticisms from Taipei City Councilor Chen Yu-cheng (陳宥丞) of the Taiwan People's Party (TPP, 民眾黨).
Councilor Chen held a press conference at the shelter earlier in the day, highlighting complaints about the conditions in Kennel 5 (犬五舍). He revealed that the kennel uses canvas for roofing, leading to poor ventilation, high temperatures, and foul odors. Chen pointed out that the indoor temperature of Kennel 5 reached 43 degrees, making it very unfriendly for both animals and volunteers.
He also noted the recent hot weather and frequent afternoon thunderstorms, which exacerbate the issue. He highlighted that rainwater could easily leak into the shelter, affecting the dogs' skin and potentially causing mold. Chen criticized the city government for neglecting the shelter's conditions, calling it inhumane and embarrassing.
In response, the Animal Protection Office confirmed that the shelter houses approximately 1,200 dogs and cats, with Kennel 5 being a temporary structure due to budget constraints. They assured that the other four kennels are equipped with air conditioning, while Kennel 5 currently uses electric fans and has no cases of heatstroke among the dogs.
The office plans to install 15 wall-mounted fans, eight large industrial fans, and three water-cooled fans. They also intend to add black canvas and two air conditioning units to improve ventilation. The improvements, expected to be completed by the end of July, may include relocating the 78 dogs from Kennel 5 to air-conditioned areas.