Being infected when bitten by a wild animal is the chief pathway for the transmission of rabies. To prevent rabies in mountain areas and control the number of dogs and cats at the source, the Health Inspection Office conducted its annual Lishan Project from the 23^rd to the 26^th of September. In this activity, roving vehicles bring dog and cat rabies vaccination and pet registration services to isolated areas, and also spread awareness of owners' responsibilities while visiting homes in various mountain boroughs. In addition, on September 27 and 28, the Health Inspection Office the team conducted fixed-location four-in-one activities at the Lishan Water Recycling Center in Lishan Borough and Huanshan Community Activity Center in Pingdeng Borough. These four-in-one activities included dog and cat spay and neuter, pet registration and microchipping, rabies vaccination, and adoption. The activities exemplified how the Health Inspection Office is using multiple channels to prevent rabies and control stray dogs and cats at the source in mountain areas.

This project provided effective, convenient, free-of-charge service to residents in isolated areas, and the Health Inspection Office also offered loaned lives traps and transport assistance to persons who had trouble catching and transporting dogs and cats. During the period from September 23 to 28, clinical veterinarians from the Health Inspection Office and Taiwan Animal Protection Association jointly spayed and neutered 40 stray dogs and cats, spayed and neutered 73 household dogs and cats, vaccinated 507 animals against rabies, and performed pet registration of 119 animals. The Health Inspection Office thanks local residents, local administrative units, and the project team for their cooperation and role in the success of this project. By working together, we can protect the health of dogs and cats in the Lishan area, control stray animals at the source, and prevent the spread of rabies and other diseases.

To encourage pet owners to get their dogs and cats spayed or neutered and vaccinated against rabies, the Health Inspection Office provides services to the public through several different channels. Apart from obtaining services through the city's animal hospitals or applying for residents' household dog and cat spay and neuter subsidies, residents can also take advantage of dog and cat spay and neuter three-in-one activities in isolated areas or roving animal rabies vaccination and microchipping services, which offer spay and neuter and rabies vaccination to household dogs and cats. According to the Animal Protection Act and Act on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases, owners who fail to spay or neuter their dogs or cats, and have not applied to keep animals that have not been spayed or neutered, may be fined from NT$50,000 to NT$250,000; owners who fail to perform pet registration for dogs may be fined from NT$10,000 to NT$50,000; and owners who have not had their dogs or cats vaccinated against rabies within a one-year period may be fined from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000. During 2024, 25 violations were discovered and handled as of August, and owners are reminded to fulfill their responsibilities and avoid penalties. Let's work together to protect the health of our furry kids.