Taipei: Several lawmakers from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Wednesday urged the government to expedite discussions with insurance companies to develop coverage plans for search and rescue, detection, and other working dogs. At a news conference in Taipei, DPP lawmaker Wu Pei-yi emphasized the importance of these working dogs, which are deployed to government agencies and serve the nation by performing high-risk tasks.

According to Focus Taiwan, data from the Ministry of Agriculture’s (MOA) Department of Animal Welfare reveals that there are currently 252 government working dogs across Taiwan engaged in activities such as search and rescue, patrol, explosive detection, drugs and tobacco interdiction, and other law enforcement and emergency services. However, unlike pet dogs, these working dogs do not have access to insurance coverage for sickness or accidental injuries.

Wu, along with other DPP lawmakers, called for joint efforts between the MOA and the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) to accelerate negotiations with private insurers to provide coverage for working dogs during training, on duty, and in retirement. The MOA is tasked with protecting working dogs, while the FSC oversees the insurance sector.

Chen Chung-hsing, deputy head of the MOA’s Department of Animal Welfare, stated at the press event that discussions between the agency and private insurers began on March 26. However, Chen did not provide a timeline for when these negotiations might be completed. Elly Huang, manager of the Consumer Insurance section at Nan Shan General Insurance Co., Ltd., the only insurer showing interest so far, mentioned that it would require time for assessment and product development.

Wang Chi-hua, an official from FSC’s Insurance Bureau, noted the challenges in reaching an agreement with insurance firms, particularly due to the limited number of working dogs and the diverse range of duties they perform. Wang explained that insurance companies typically rely on large pools to spread costs, making it less appealing for them to create plans for working dogs.

In response, DPP lawmaker Lee Kuen-cheng suggested that the MOA and FSC consider government-sponsored insurance plans as a potential solution for providing coverage to these essential working dogs.