To encourage private groups and schools at all levels to promote animal protection and disease prevention work in cooperation with the City, the Health Inspection Office conducts the annual Animal Protection & Disease Prevention Award Assessment activity. According to the 2024 assessment results, the Professional Animal-Assisted Therapy Association of Taiwan, Lucky Taichung Association, and Hope Cafe Stray Dog Education Association merited a grade of "Superior," and the Taichung City Pet Commerce Association and Taichung Hope & Love Association earned "Grade A" honors. All of the participating groups demonstrated outstanding animal protection results in their respective areas of specialization.

All of the groups honored in this year's assessment had conducted noteworthy activities. The Professional Animal-Assisted Therapy Association of Taiwan brought professional animal-assisted therapists and therapy dogs into cooperating kindergartens as part of its "Learning Love for Animals with Therapy Dogs in Kindergartens" activity. In this activity, the kids learned about love for animals and respect for life through picture books. As they interacted with the therapy dogs, the kids paired the concepts they saw in the books with everyday life experiences, which planted the seeds of correct animal care in their hearts. The Lucky Taichung Association, which is also dedicated to protecting animals and children, conducted the "Let Me Guard You: Animal and Children Protection Awareness Project." In this activity, simulated interactive situations led by professional presenters accompanied by dogs let parents and children from vulnerable families learn about the concept of body boundaries, along with how to protect oneself and respect others in everyday life. The Hope Cafe Stray Dog Education Association conducted animal protection talks and household dog behavior consulting sessions in its "Finding Homes for Strays" activity. The purpose of this activity was to promote animal protection while helping owners to better understand their dogs' behavior and their own responsibilities. This association also conducted volunteer training, and helped to provide halfway care of stray dogs intended to assist the canines in adapting to human society.

In addition, the Taichung City Pet Commerce Association conducted the "2024 200-hour Professional Training Program," in which instructors taught members of the pet industry and persons who wished to open pet businesses about correct pet care and relevant laws and regulations. The far-ranging content of this program attracted not only many industry personnel, but also numerous members of the general public. Long dedicated to housing stray animals and preparing them for adoption, the Taichung Hope & Love Association has established a team to follow-up on dogs and cats placed in adoptive homes, while helping neophyte owners to learn appropriate care methods. The association has further established an online video channel to promote life education. We thank these groups for the outstanding assistance they have provided to animal protection in their respective areas of expertise. They have all done their part for animal protection in different ways, and have been notably successful in getting even more people to understand the importance of kindness to animals and respect for life.

Strongly determined to advance animal welfare, Taichung City hopes to rely on public-private efforts, including close cooperation with local partners in animal protection work, to transmit our belief in kindness to animals.