HUALIEN (TVBS News)— The Hualien County Government (花蓮縣政府) on Monday (Nov. 18) recognized the Pet Sitters Association Taiwan (社團法人台灣寵物保姆協會) for its contributions to a recent pet sheltering drill. With an increasing number of pet owners facing challenges during emergencies, the association aims to address this issue by establishing standard operating procedures for emergency pet sheltering.
The association held its first drill at the end of October, focusing on the necessary equipment and facilities. Wang Wei-chun (王維俊), the association's secretary-general, noted that during the Hualien earthquake in April, the association quickly compiled and shared information on pet-friendly hotels. This response highlighted the importance of emergency pet sheltering for owners.
The association plans to enhance pet sheltering by identifying suitable spaces near shelters or setting up tents outside shelter buildings, allowing owners to evacuate with their pets. Wang emphasized that while regulations currently cover only dogs and cats, many people keep amphibians, hamsters, and birds as pets. He acknowledged the need for future efforts to accommodate these animals.
The Hualien County Government hosted the "Resilient Taiwan Project Achievements and Exchange Event" (強韌台灣計畫成果展暨交流活動) at the Hualien Disaster Prevention and Education Center (花蓮防災教育館). This event showcased collaboration with National Dong Hwa University (東華大學) in disaster resilience and promoted cooperation among industry, government, academia, and research in disaster prevention. The government also awarded outstanding resilient communities, disaster prevention professionals, and businesses for their contributions.