He Xin-chun announces pet welfare platform for Taichung

He Xin-chun, a Democratic Progressive Party mayoral candidate for Taichung, has announced a comprehensive animal welfare platform titled ‘5+1 Pet Policies’. The proposal focuses on five key areas: pet-friendly environments, medical capacity, owner education, animal adoption, and the pet industry.

Key components of the plan include upgrading city parks with improved shade, drinking water, and lighting, as well as introducing a ‘Taichung Pet Voucher’ worth 500 TWD. To address medical shortages, He proposed subsidizing night emergency services for animal hospitals and providing full training subsidies for veterinary assistants who complete one year of service in Taichung.

Veterinary professionals have noted that while subsidies are helpful, long-term solutions must address labor costs, flexible working hours, and the administrative burdens faced by clinics, such as complex import processes for medical equipment and difficulties in securing financing.