New taipei: Taiwan's first long-term care facility for cats and dogs officially opened in New Taipei's Zhonghe District, marking a significant step in the city's initiative to transform public animal shelters into comprehensive animal care and medical centers. The facility aims to address the growing need for specialized care for aging and ailing pets.
According to Focus Taiwan, the opening ceremony was attended by New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih, who was introduced to the state-of-the-art equipment at the facility, including aquatic therapy treadmills and yoga balls. Mayor Hou emphasized the importance of caring for aging pets, drawing parallels between human and animal aging processes.
The facility, formerly Zhonghe's animal shelter, represents a milestone in New Taipei's animal care policies. It is designed to provide continuous care for animals, with plans to collaborate with veterinarians to offer free monthly health and physical therapy classes. Animals adopted from New Taipei's public shelters' long-term care lists will benefit from free lifelong veterinary care at public clinics managed by the city's Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office.
The office highlighted the facility's new features, such as an outdoor exercise area and physical therapy equipment, which cater specifically to animals with mobility issues. The redesigned kennel spaces and innovative lighting and interior design ensure that animals with physical disabilities can access sunlight and outdoor views.
The facility has been recognized for its architectural excellence, winning Taiwan's Chinese Architectural Golden Stone Award in 2024 and the FIABCI-Taiwan Real Estate Excellence Awards in 2025. Currently, New Taipei oversees nearly 1,200 cats and dogs across its eight public shelters, with several already incorporating specialized care facilities as part of the city's shelter repurposing program. For instance, the Sanzhi District shelter added an emergency injury response center, and the Banqiao shelter is poised to launch Taiwan's first demonstration area for a cat-friendly environment.