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Article 1 The Taichung City (Taichung or the City) Self-Government
Ordinance for Animal Protection (the Ordinance) is hereby
established for the purpose of respecting animal life, improving
animal welfare, maintaining public safety, and increasing pet
owners’ sense of responsibility for their pets.
Article 2 The Competent authority for the Ordinance is the Agriculture
Bureau of Taichung City Government (the Bureau), and the
administering agency is the Taichung City Animal Protection and
Health Inspection Office (the Office).
Article 3 Definition of Terms
1.“Animal” refers to dogs, cats, and other vertebrate animals that
are raised or managed by humans, including animals raised and
used for commercial purposes, laboratory animals, pets, and
other animals.
2.“Pet owner” refers to a person who owns or manages an animal.
3.“Pet” refers to dogs, cats, and other animals that are raised or
managed for the purpose of companionship or enjoyment.
Article 4 When pet owners bring their pets into public places or places
accessible to the public, they shall use leashes, carriers, or other
appropriate protective measures according to the pet’s size and
species.
If a pet owner fails to utilize the appropriate protective measures, the
Office may, if necessary, take the pet into protective custody and
transfer it to an animal shelter or other designated location.
When pet owners bring their pets into a place specifically designated
for animal use, the regulations of the place may have precedence,
and such pet owners are not subject to the restrictions of Paragraph
1.
Article 5 Pet owners who are required to register their pets shall, within 2
months of the date of the pet’s birth, acquisition, or transfer, bring
the pet to the Office or its designated location to complete
registration. A microchip shall be implanted, and a pet registration
certificate must be obtained.
Article 6 Employers shall require workers not to engage in the slaughter of
dogs or cats, or the sale, purchase, consumption, or possession of
their carcasses or internal organs or of any food products containing
such within workplaces, dormitories, or other activity spaces
provided by the employer.
The employer referred to in Paragraph 1 shall be determined based
on the employment relationship at the time of the worker’s conduct.
Article 7 When the Bureau receives a report of an animal in distress or that
has been abused or injured in a public place or a location accessible
to the public, it shall carry out rescue operations, provide shelter, and
offer necessary emergency medical care. The Bureau may also
request assistance from relevant agencies of the Taichung City
Government or commission veterinary institutions or private
organizations to handle the matter.
The Bureau shall establish and formulate guidelines for a review
committee to review expenses related to animal rescue, sheltering,
and emergency medical care.
Article 8 Citizens who adopt or reclaim dogs or cats from the City’s animal
shelters may be exempt from the following fees:
1. Adopting stray dogs or cats: Microchip fee, implantation service
fee, pet registration fee, and rabies vaccination fee
2. Reclaiming owned dogs or cats: Pet registration fee and rabies
vaccination fee
To encourage citizens of the City to register, neuter, and implant
microchips in their pets, the Bureau may subsidize related expenses.
The types of pets eligible for registration and neutering subsidies as
well as the associated costs shall be publicly announced by Bureau.
Article 9 The Office shall appoint animal protection inspectors who shall be
responsible for animal protection within their jurisdiction, including
cases of animal abuse or injury, and enforcement against the use of
animal traps.
When performing the duties mentioned above, animal protection
inspectors may request assistance from police personnel.
If police personnel demonstrate outstanding performance in
assisting with the aforementioned duties, the Bureau may
recommend them for commendation to the Police Department.
Article 10 Acts that violate the Animal Protection Act, the Ordinance, or other
related laws may be reported to the Office through a statement of the
facts of the matter or the provision of evidence. The Office may offer
rewards for such reports.
Upon discovering or receiving reports of such cases, animal
protection inspectors may, together with police personnel, enter
public places, places accessible to the public, or private premises to
conduct investigations, enforcement actions, and emergency
protection or placement of abused animals. However, entry into
private premises for investigation, enforcement, or emergency
placement of abused animals shall require the consent of the owner,
person in charge, or manager of the premises.
Personnel carrying out the above duties must present official
identification or wear clearly recognizable symbols that indicate
their authority.
Article 11 The Bureau may provide guidance or assistance or entrust private
organizations or groups to establish animal shelters. If necessary, the
Bureau shall coordinate with relevant agencies to provide public
land for use as shelters for stray dogs.
Schools at all levels, private organizations, and groups may submit
a project proposal to the Bureau to apply for subsidies or be entrusted
to carry out tasks related to animal protection and epidemic
prevention, including animal adoption, sterilization, rescue, shelter
management, and educational promotion of animal protection.
Those whose performance of the aforementioned subsidized or
entrusted tasks is excellent may be rewarded by the Bureau. The
reward regulations shall be stipulated by the Bureau.
Article 12 Businesses that engage in the breeding, sale, or boarding of specific
pets for profit may obtain a permit from the Taichung City
Government in accordance with the Specific Pet Business
Management Regulations. Such businesses shall complete business
registration in accordance with the law before commencing
operations.
Such businesses shall join the city's pet industry trade association as
members within 1 month of starting operations.
The aforementioned trade association shall cooperate with the
Bureau and assist its members in promoting animal protection
efforts.
Article 13 The Taichung City Government shall establish an Animal Welfare
Fund to enhance animal welfare in the city.
Regulations for income, expenditures, custody, and utilization of the
aforementioned fund shall be separately stipulated by the Bureau.
Article 14 (Repealed)
Article 14-1 Elementary and secondary schools in the city may assign personnel
to participate in animal protection education and training courses
organized by the Office or its commissioned organizations.
Participants may also be rewarded.
The guidelines for the aforementioned commissioned activities and
rewards shall be separately stipulated by the Bureau.
Article 15 An employer who violates the provisions of Article 6, Paragraph 1
shall be fined between NT$15,000 and NT$75,000. However, if the
employer can provide evidence that they have fulfilled their
obligation to educate and inform their employees about the law, they
shall be exempt from the fine.
"Fulfilled their obligation to educate and inform" refers to actions
such as posting educational posters or conducting legal awareness
training sessions for employees, with written or video
documentation as proof.
Article 16 Pet owners who violate the provisions of Article 5 shall be fined
between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000.
Article 17 Any owner, person in charge, or manager of a premises who violates
the provisions of Article 10, Paragraph 2 by evading or obstructing
an animal protection inspector or refusing to allow an animal
protection inspector to conduct an investigation, enforcement action,
or emergency protective placement of abused animals shall be fined
between NT$10,000 and NT$50,000.
Article 18 A pet owner who violates the provisions of Article 4, Paragraph 1
shall be advised by the Office and ordered to make improvements
within a specified period. If the improvements are not made by the
deadline, a fine of between NT$3,000 and NT$15,000 shall be
imposed, and repeated fines may be issued for continued non-
compliance.
Article 19 This Ordinance shall come into effect on the date of its official
announcement. |