The Taichung City Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office has joined forces with animal protection groups and veterinarians in conducting a dog and cat spay and neuter program targeting the city's more remote areas. This program has successfully strengthened control of the dog and cat population at the source and prevented the occurrence of rabies. The recent December 8 spay and neuter session held at the Jiushe Community Activity Center in the Houli District was the program's final session of the year, and many pet owners took advantage of this last opportunity to bring their furry kids to be spayed, neutered, and vaccinated against rabies.

During 2024, the city's annual dog and cat spay and neuter program targeting remote areas conducted a total of 69 sessions, and spayed or neutered a total of 3,825 dogs and cats. The program has been a shining example of the power of public-private cooperation to advance animal protection, and has also done much to promote awareness of owner responsibility and the need to spay and neuter dogs and cats. The City's implementation of this dog and cat spay and neuter program has relied on Health Inspection Office volunteers, district offices, borough and neighborhood chiefs, local community development associations, schools, and other organizations to provide sites and publicity. The Dr. Mao Yet Clinic, Tian En-ya Animal Hospital, and Asia University Veterinary Hospital joined the program in 2024, and provided superior veterinary service, and the Taiwan Animal Protection Association and Heart of Taiwan Animal Care cooperated with the personnel from the Hu-Guang Veterinary Hospital and MMJ & Lin Animal Hospital to ensure that the program went smoothly and even more cats and dogs were benefited. Most important of all were the good owners who brought their household furry kids to participate in the program. All of these individuals and organizations are vital supporters of the city's continuing animal protection efforts.

Spaying and neutering dogs and cats will reduce their chance of getting cancer and diseases of the reproductive system when older. And by preventing excessive reproduction, spaying and neutering can control the number of dogs and cats at the source and curb the proliferation of stray animals. We hope that this joint public-private effort bringing spay and neuter services deep into the City's most isolated corners will continue to promote the concept of owner responsibility and need for spaying and neutering, and contribute to keeping Taichung a livable, friendly city for both humans and animals.