New Taipei City offers lottery for new pet registrations

New Taipei City is launching a campaign to encourage responsible pet ownership by offering incentives for timely registration. The Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office is hosting a lottery for new pet owners who complete their dog or cat's registration between now and September 30.

Participants who successfully register their pets and upload a screenshot of the registration certificate to the office's Facebook page can enter the draw. The prize is NT$500 in "New Taipei Coins," which can be used for purchases at major convenience stores like Hi-Life and numerous other participating merchants. This initiative aims to boost compliance with pet registration regulations.

The office also reminded citizens that failure to register pets can result in fines ranging from NT$3,000 to NT$15,000, with escalating penalties for non-compliance. This underscores the city's commitment to animal welfare and public health through proper pet management.

In a touching anecdote, the office shared the story of "Xiao Ba," a dog that was reunited with its owner after being lost for nearly five years. The dog was found wandering 15 kilometers away, its fur grayed with age. The reunion was made possible because the dog had a microchip, allowing the animal shelter to identify it and contact the owner. The owner expressed profound gratitude, emphasizing the critical role of microchip registration in bringing his beloved pet home.

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Fortunately, we were able to contact Mr. Zhang, but Xiao Ba was already lost for 15 kilometers, and its fur had already turned white. Seeing this, Mr. Zhang's eyes turned red and he sighed, 'Fortunately, I had the pet registration and microchip implanted back then, so I could bring it home to take care of it for the rest of its life.'