Braving the pre-typhoon weather, dozens of dogs participated in yesterday’s dog-a-thon, the first parade for pets ever held in Taipei.
The event, organized by Animals Taiwan, was held at Civic Plaza in front of Taipei City Hall on World Animal Day yesterday. Hundreds of animal lovers and dozens of dogs, from Labradors to golden retrievers, were at the event.
Despite poor weather as Typhoon Parma approaches Taiwan, the rain did not put out the passion of animal lovers who attended.
PHOTO: CNA
A 40-year-old woman surnamed Chiang was in attendance, along with her husband and their black-haired poodle. Both wore the same light-blue T-shirts, while the poodle wore a doggie raincoat.
“I came because I want my dog to meet and socialize with other dogs,” she said.
Dozens of stalls, from food and beverage sponsors to veterinarians and other pet-related services, were set up.
World Animal Day originated at an ecological convention in Florence, Italy, in 1931. Though it started as a means to shed light on the plight of endangered species, since then it has become a celebration of all animal species around the world. It is held every year on Oct. 4 in honor of the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals.
Among notable attendees were Democratic Progressive Party Taipei City Councilor Wu Su-yao (吳思瑤), Discovery Channel’s Fun Taiwan show host Janet Hsieh (謝怡芬) and celebrity Ivy Hsu (許嘉凌).
“We hope to create an environment where animals can be free of suffering and promote the use of humane methods to resolve the problem of stray animals,” Animals Taiwan secretary-general Rosa Huang (黃蘊茹) said. “This time, we want to use the opportunity of World Animal Day to tell the people of Taiwan and the world that adoption saves, abandonment kills.”
Comprising mainly volunteers, Animals Taiwan was established five years ago to deal with pet overpopulation through education, adoption and outreach programs. The organization became a government-registered non-profit group last year.
The High Prosecutors’ Office yesterday withdrew an appeal against the acquittal of a former bank manager 22 years after his death, marking Taiwan’s first instance of prosecutors rendering posthumous justice to a wrongfully convicted defendant. Chu Ching-en (諸慶恩) — formerly a manager at the Taipei branch of BNP Paribas — was in 1999 accused by Weng Mao-chung (翁茂鍾), then-president of Chia Her Industrial Co, of forging a request for a fixed deposit of US$10 million by I-Hwa Industrial Co, a subsidiary of Chia Her, which was used as collateral. Chu was ruled not guilty in the first trial, but was found guilty
DEADLOCK: As the commission is unable to forum a quorum to review license renewal applications, the channel operators are not at fault and can air past their license date The National Communications Commission (NCC) yesterday said that the Public Television Service (PTS) and 36 other television and radio broadcasters could continue airing, despite the commission’s inability to meet a quorum to review their license renewal applications. The licenses of PTS and the other channels are set to expire between this month and June. The National Communications Commission Organization Act (國家通訊傳播委員會組織法) stipulates that the commission must meet the mandated quorum of four to hold a valid meeting. The seven-member commission currently has only three commissioners. “We have informed the channel operators of the progress we have made in reviewing their license renewal applications, and
Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) yesterday appealed to the authorities to release former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) from pretrial detention amid conflicting reports about his health. The TPP at a news conference on Thursday said that Ko should be released to a hospital for treatment, adding that he has blood in his urine and had spells of pain and nausea followed by vomiting over the past three months. Hsieh Yen-yau (謝炎堯), a retired professor of internal medicine and Ko’s former teacher, said that Ko’s symptoms aligned with gallstones, kidney inflammation and potentially dangerous heart conditions. Ko, charged with
Taiwan-based publisher Li Yanhe (李延賀) has been sentenced to three years in prison, fined 50,000 yuan (US$6,890) in personal assets and deprived political rights for one year for “inciting secession” in China, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Chen Binhua (陳斌華) said today. The Shanghai First Intermediate People’s Court announced the verdict on Feb. 17, Chen said. The trial was conducted lawfully, and in an open and fair manner, he said, adding that the verdict has since come into legal effect. The defendant reportedly admitted guilt and would appeal within the statutory appeal period, he said, adding that the defendant and his family have
RSS