Taipei City Government

In addition to the Teachers’ Day, September 28 is also the World Rabies Day, therefore the Taipei City Animal Protection Office (APO) co-hosted a free rabies vaccination and pet registration event at the Tanmei Dog Park with the Taipei City Great Bougainvillea Association today (September 21). A total of 150 rabies vaccines and pet microchips were provided free of charge. President Li Ming-hsien and celebrities Vicky Tseng, Hsu Wei-yin, Liang I-chen, and Liu Yu-shan all turned out for the event by bringing their pets to receive their annual rabies vaccination. Together, they appealed to the public to be responsible pet owners and look after their wellbeing.

The APO pointed out that the mortality of rabies among animals or humans is 100%. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), vaccine coverage of more than 70% of the dog population will prevent rabies transmission. To strengthen the concept of regular pet vaccination among citizens, the APO conducts annual rabies vaccination and pet registration events in remote townships and low elevation mountain regions. This year, 28 vaccination events have been organized, benefiting 1,237 dogs and cats so far.

In promoting the World Rabies Day and encouraging pet owners to exercise their fur babies outdoors, the APO hosted a free rabies vaccination and pet registration event at the Tanmei Dog Park today, and celebrities Vicky Tseng, Hsu Wei-yin, Liang I-chen, and Liu Yu-shan also turned out in support of the initiative by checking in on Facebook and bringing their pets to receive the annual rabies vaccination.

Furthermore, they also visited Taipei Animal Shelter nearby to gain insight into the shelter conditions for stray animals. They appealed to the public to “adopt, don’t abandon,” and to become responsible pet owners by implanting their pets with microchips in order to register them and provide them with an identity. Additionally, they should have their pets vaccinated every year so as to protect their health.

The APO reiterated that Taiwan is currently not a rabies-free region, with rabies virus detected mostly in feral Chinese ferret-badgers and masked palm civets. Frequent cases of feral animals with rabies breaking into homes and biting residents in central, south, and east Taiwan have been reported, since Chinese ferret-badgers and masked palm civets are active in low-elevation mountain regions, often crossing paths with local citizens. Therefore, the APO urges it is imperative that the public observe the Two Don’ts and One Do Principle of “Don’t touch wild animals, don’t abandon your pets, and do take your dogs and cats to receive rabies vaccination every year” in an effort to guarantee your safety and that of your fur babies.