Artists, animal welfare campaigners and government officials yesterday launched an awareness campaign to teach pet owners the correct way to take care of their animals amid the increasing popularity of pet ownership.
The campaign, launched by the Council of Agriculture (COA), features graphic design by artist James, who created the illustration series Mydeerdog (狗與鹿), and short films by photographer Lin Bing-cun (林炳存) to promote neutering and alert the public to common mistakes made by pet owners.
Many owners fail to fulfill the basic needs of their pets, such as giving them appropriate food and daily exercise, while some harbor misconceptions about spaying and neutering, James said.
“Many pet owners walk their dogs without a leash, and some leave their pets in cars unattended. Many believe those behaviors are harmless, but they are actually dangerous,” James said.
Owners are urged to microchip and vaccinate their pets, provide appropriate food and timely medical care and avoid keeping pets in a cage for too long.
Posters and stickers printed with James’ designs are to be distributed to the public, and two films promoting neutering will be screened in movie theaters, mass rapid transit systems and taxis.
“Civilization has evolved to the point where animal abuse and neglect cannot be justified. Being a good owner means being responsible and registering your pets. People cannot abandon pets just because they do not love them anymore,” Council of Agriculture Minister Tsao Chi-hung (曹啟鴻) said.
The number of domestic dogs and cats grew from 1.36 million in 2005 to 2.3 million last year, and the percentage of pet-keeping households rose from 20 percent in 2005 to 33 percent last year.
Household cats have overtaken dogs in terms of the rate of population increase, as there were 560,000 pet cats last year, marking 150 percent growth from 220,000 in 2005, according to COA data.
There have been more animal abuse cases discovered due to heightened awareness, so the campaign was launched to encourage responsible pet ownership, the agency said.
Taiwan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals executive director Connie Chiang (姜怡如) said the association received more than 700 reports of animal abuse last year, 80 percent of which involved improper caring.
Nearly 2,000 animal cruelty cases are confirmed every year, and the number is expected to rise due to increasing animal protection awareness, council Husbandry Department Director Chiang Wen-chuan (江文全) said.
The council conducts about 70,000 inspections every year and has found that more than half of pets were not registered, Chiang said.
Owners face a fine of between NT$3,000 and NT$15,000 for failing to microchip their pets, Chiang added.
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