Taipei Travel

TAIPEI #37 (2024 Autumn)

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Dogs and Cats Welcome!
Helpful Info for Pet Owners

TEXT & PHOTOS　Vision

Taipei's reputation as a pet-friendly city, teeming with furry companions and their dedicated owners, is well-deserved. But what does this truly mean for pet owners? 
Let's dive into some of the practicalities of enjoying the city with your furry friends by providing some helpful information.
Dog-Friendly Bus Services
There are a total of 19 dog-friendly bus routes in Taipei, available on both weekdays and weekends. Each bus stops within short walking distance of one of the 21 parks with dedicated dog run areas. Dogs ride for free, leashes are required. Click here to quickly open a Google map showing the locations of all these parks and the nearest bus stop of a dog-friendly route.

Public Buses

• Small pets must be in a secure, leak-proof carrier at all times
• Carrier size limit: 55 × 45 × 40cm
• One pet per passenger
• Owners have to clean up after their pets if needed
• Pets are not allowed on seats and luggage racks, or in aisles
• Poultry are prohibited; small-sized pet birds are allowed
• Guide dogs are welcome, including puppies in training

Taipei Metro

• All pets must be in leak-proof and secure carriers/strollers at all times; poultry are prohibited
• Small carriers/strollers (combined length, width, and height less than 175cm) are allowed at all stations for free.
• Large strollers: A NT$80 ticket is required regardless of distance, buy ticket at info booth and enter through the service gate; not allowed at Taipei Main Station, Zhongxiao Xinsheng, and all stations on the Wenhu (Brown) Line; allowed only during weekdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm and from 10:00pm to midnight, and on weekends and holidays all day
• One pet per passenger
• Use elevators and prioritize the elderly/disabled; board at train ends and avoid occupying wheelchair spaces
• Regulations above does not apply for service dogs and puppies in training

Taiwan Railway and Taiwan High Speed Rail

• Cats, dogs, and other pets (poultry and snakes are prohibited) are allowed in secure, leak-proof carriers/strollers
• Carrier size limit: 55 × 45 × 38cm
• TR: One carrier/stroller per passenger
• THSR: One carrier/stroller free of cost; for a second carrier/stroller passenger needs to purchase an additional full ticket
• Pet containers are not allowed on seats or luggage racks, or in luggage storage areas
• Service dogs and puppies in training are exempt from carrier rules

Pet Registration and Chipping

• Pet registration, including chipping, can be done at the Taipei City Animal Protection Office or one of 259 authorized locations throughout the city
• The cost to chip a pet is NT$300 (incl. chip, name tag, and procedure); chip registration is NT$500 for neutered pets and NT$1,000 for pets that have not been neutered yet More info at: www.pet.gov.tw (Pet Registration Information System; Chinese)

Neutering

• For residents of Taipei City with microchipped and rabies-vaccinated dogs/cats,  there are subsidies available for the neutering surgery; NT$800 for the males, NT$1,500 for the females
• Steps: 1. Choose any veterinarian for the procedure 2. Apply for the subsidy after the procedure through the Animal Protection Office or online (Applications must be submitted by December 20 of the same year as the neutering procedure.)
• In general, subsidies apply to dogs and cats only, but may occasionally be available for other pets. Follow Taipei City Animal Office on Facebook for latest info. More info at: www.tcapo.gov.taipei (Taipei City Animal Protection Office)

Pet Adoption
If you wish to adopt a dog or cat, you can visit the Taipei Animal Shelter. Its current,  temporary, location is at 191, Anmei Street, Neihu District. (Tue-Sun 10:00am-4:00pm). Steps to adopt a pet can be found on the website of the Taipei City Animal Protection Office at bit.ly/dogcatadoption (Chinese). Apart from dogs and cats, it is also possible to adopt rabbits and rodents. The Taiwan Rabbit Saving Association and the Taiwan Rodents Care offer cute little ones for prospective owners.

🐶If you happen upon animals that need to be rescued, call the Taipei City Animal Protection Hotline at 1959🐱