Taichung City's 2024 spay and neuter program for dogs and cats in isolated areas has now formally gotten underway. The Health Inspection Office is continuing world work with private animal protection groups to promote the spay and neuter of dogs and cats in the city's more isolated areas, and has chiefly aimed this program at mixed-breed animals. Pet owners who wish to participate should prevent their animals from eating or drinking any water for at least 8 hours before the procedure. Upon arriving at the site, owners must wait in line to sign in and fill out necessary information. Personnel from an animal protection association will confirm that the dogs and cats are in an adequate state of health, weigh the animals and record their weight, and shave and apply disinfectant to the surgical area, which will allow the veterinarians to concentrate on the procedures. Volunteers will care for the dogs and cats post-surgery, and the animals will be given back to their owners after their anesthesia wears off. When the animals are given back, owners will be repeatedly reminded of key post-surgical care instructions, and will also be urged to fulfill their responsibilities correctly. We hope that annual public-private cooperative spay and neuter sessions in isolated areas will further the city's policy of spay and neuter, and no abandonment. We also look forward to citizens helping control the number of dogs and cats at the source through spay and neuter, and thereby reducing the number of second-generation stray animals.

The Health Inspection Office reminds pet owners that spaying or neutering their dogs or cats is one of their basic responsibilities. The number of owners who may sign up to have their dogs and cats spayed or neutered at each session of this activity is limited, but more sessions will gradually be announced. To participate, please watch the Free Spay and Neuter Program for Dogs and Cats in Isolated Areas area of the animal protection section of the Taichung City Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office's website for announcement of further sessions.