The "Cherry Blossoms in Bloom" community in the City's Wuri District teamed up with the Taiwan Animal Protection Monitor Network to hold the joint "Results of the Cherry Blossoms in Bloom Community Animal Survey" press conference on June 28. This event shared the community's experience of spaying/neutering stray cats from the area and putting them up for adoption. The results of the animal-friendly project led by the community shows how people can channel their enthusiasm and work together to create happier lives for furry kids.

Animals are all around us in our everyday lives. Because he keeps cats and has a great love of animals, Manager Huang of the Cherry Blossoms in Bloom community, which is located in Taichung City's Wuri District, began promoting a community animal-friendly project after discovering that there were many stray cats living nearby. Apart from searching for resources to spay/neuter and send for adoption stray cats living in the community, the project also involved the construction of an appealing "cat secretary on-duty room" for cats awaiting adoption within the community. This small room lets stray cats waiting for a home become members of the community in the role of "cat secretaries," and makes this a fine example of an animal-friendly community.

Apart from requiring pet owners to fulfill their responsibilities, efforts to lessen the number of stray dogs and cats must also include reducing the number of animals at the source through a program of spaying and neutering, and offering the animals up for adoption. Starting last year (2023), the Health Inspection Office has conducted a survey of household dogs, intensified pet registration, and spaying and neutering work in the City's Dongshi District. This year, apart from the Dongshi District, the scope of this program has been expanded to the Wuri District. In these districts, management measures including a carpet household dog survey, spaying and neutering, and pet registration will be used to eliminate the problem of stray dogs and cats at the source. The Health Inspection Office is joining forces with Taichung residents in creating a hospitable city that is comfortable for both humans and animals.

Since the efforts of the government alone are limited, animal protection must also depend on the coordinated efforts of both public and private sectors to create an animal-friendly environment. The Health Inspection Office is actively collaborating with all relevant parties, and hopes to team up with even more like-minded partners with whom to work together to create a better world on the long journey of animal protection.