Pet-friendly in Taichung

By Niang Chen　Translated by Ann Lee

Pets have always been some of life's best partners, and having a dog or cat at home can make our daily routine just a little more vivid, fun and interesting. In this issue of Compass, we introduce a number of pet-related businesses in Taichung that help make this city more pet-friendly. At the same time, if you are thinking about adopting a stray cat or dog, there is some information on how you can find your new companion and take them into your home.

Stray cat and dog adoptions: Every Sunday at JingGuo Boulevard parkway next to Park Lane by CMP
Organized by the Taichung City Animal Protection and Health Inspection Center, and The Universal Preservation of Animals Association, this stray cat and dog adoption gathering takes place every Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. on the parkway next to Park Lane by CMP shopping mall on GongYi Road (opposite Civic Square). Here, you'll find a variety of homeless cats and dogs, in addition to a charity sale of clothing and accessories. Most of the animals on display here are from families whose pets have had puppies or kittens, leading to overcrowding. Other dogs and cats brought here for adoption were sick or injured strays reported by residents to authorities. These have already received primary treatment from animal hospitals and new owners are only required to fill out a form and donate NT$1,000, which goes back to the animal shelter as a refuge bond, before taking their new pet home. For animals that are three months or younger, one needs to pay a NT$1,000 fee to cover a vasectomy. When the pet reaches six months old, the owner shall takes it to the hospital to get it "fixed", after which they can get their NT$1,000 back where they adopted it.

Currently, there are close to 100 stray cats and dogs every week at this adoption site and, on average, about 10 of them find new owners. Those interested in providing these needy animals with a home can visit at this location on a Sunday afternoon and see these adorable creatures for themselves.

Contact information: Taichung City Universal Preservation of Animals Association (04) 2229-0207.

Pet care, recreation and training complex: Berlin Club
688, ChungTai Rd (near Taichung City Department of Motor Vehicles, tel. 2381-7452)
Hours: 11 am-7 pm, 10 am-8 pm (weekends), closed Mondays.
No service charge. Credit cards not accepted.

This complex was established to pamper and care for the needs of all dogs. Inside the facility you'll find a 24-hour swimming pool with a special water-filtering system to keep the water clean, a constant-temperature pet overnight accommodation area (8 am-8 pm, large dogs NT$500 per day; medium-sized dogs NT$400/day), and also a pets-only bathing area equipped with huge drying machines and a self-serve bathing area (NT$300 for large dogs, NT$200 for medium/small ones). Outside is a spacious, grassy field where you can train your dog. The training program ranges from the basic fundamentals and house training to special training for show dogs and guard dogs. Training fees start at NT$13,000 a month and the facility allows dog owners to sit inside a brightly-lit restaurant with big French windows, enjoying a good meal while keeping an eye on how their beloved canine is coming along at training. The restaurant offers a variety of cuisine, all freshly-made, ranging from NT$80 to NT$240. Of course, meals for your dog are also available with price from NT$100 to NT$150 and choices including Ham & Cheese, or Healthy Lamb.

Dining with your pet: Old Street Artistic Garden Cafe
24-1, DingChiao 3rd Lane (facing front entrance of National Chung Hsing University, inside the west-side alley next to Xing Long Temple)
(04) 2285-1824
Hours: 10 am-9 pm
Minimum charge of NT$50/person. No service charge. Credit cards not accepted.

Located inside the Old Street Artistic Garden Cafe next to Chung Hsing University, this pet shop used to be a place where people came to adopt/purchase second-hand pets, the reason being that many college students lacked the time to care for their animals. However, over the years, owner Ms. Lin felt that the right thing for pet owners to do was to show more responsibility and passion for owning a pet, so she stopped taking in more animals at her shop. This garden cafe is surrounded by plenty of decorative greenery, so that stepping into the pet shop feels a bit like walking into a rain forest. Its pine wood architecture and wooden inside furniture exude a cozy, nature-like ambiance. If you decide to dine here, you can choose either the fish or two other kinds of meat and set meals, all prepared with Ms. Lin's culinary expertise, range from NT$100 to NT$200. This makes this the perfect place to enjoy some one-on-one time with your pet in a "rain forest".

A cat lovers' paradise: Moon & Cat
9, Lane 15, Longjing Township, XinXing Rd, Taichung County; (04) 2633-3388
Hours: 11 am-11 pm
No service charge. Credit cards not accepted.

Making a trip to Moon & Cat is like entering a fairy tale-like, feline paradise. Walk in and you'll immediately notice the owner's personal "Hello Kitty" collection, and be greeted at the door by two or three cats. These cats tend to be a bit snobby and naughty, but will come sit by your feet or stroll through different corners of the restaurant as patrons dine. The attraction here for all cat lovers is direct interaction with these feminine animals. However, as cats can care about marking their personal territory, you are responsible for looking after your own pet if you bring it along to the restaurant. Available meals here include a buffet bar that offers a variety of beverages, toast, soup and braised-type dishes. Guests may enjoy unlimited access to this in addition to any items they order from the menu, where they'll find different flavors of hot pots, Au Gratin Baked Spaghetti & Meatballs in Tomato Sauce or Pesto Sauce, and other light snacks and herbal teas, starting from NT$100.

Pet supermarket and spa: Hua Gu Tou Trendy Pets' Salon
302-1, MeiCun Rd, Sec 1; (04) 2301-1822
Hours: 10 am-10 pm
Credit cards accepted.

You could call this place a supermarket for all kinds of dogs, as it sells just about everything you could think of, and then some, for your dog. This includes clothing and handbags that will fit your dog, dog-sized beds, collars, accessories and pet foods for different breeds like the Poodle, Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, and Schnauzer. For owners who treat their pets like their own children, there are some very interesting, unique-looking accessories to help when it comes to pet styling. Other services include a pet beauty spa, pet-sitting, pet inquiries, and delivery/training services. They also allow the owners to join a class with their non-human companions, learning the right ways to interact with each other, with courses designed to encourage pet courtesy and boost intimacy between owner and the pet. The shop offers a one-hour course each week, teaching your pet how to behave in an obedient manner, and a total of 12 lessons will cost you NT$3,000. There is also an advanced class, teaching pets to more complicated moves. On seasonal basis, the shop hosts an outing for all dogs and their masters, creating an excellent opportunity for dogs to make more friends, and for owners to share their interesting stories.

Professional medical pet care: National Veterinary Hospital

National Veterinary Hospital CEO, Dr. Chen Dao-jie, returned to Taiwan in 1989 after graduating from Banfield Animal Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. Since then, he has led a team of professional veterinarian doctors caring for animal health, by establishing this hospital and its many branches. With his innovative ideas, Chen hopes to build a network of people who care about animal welfare throughout the world. By taking care of pets from a medical perspective, he can also show his concern for all the other types of animals in his hospital network. The National Veterinary Hospital chain and its staff members are like a family and, for about two decades now, the hospital has divided its medical care into different specialties. Front-desk receptionists have bilingual abilities that allow them to communicate with owners from different cultures and backgrounds. Currently, there are a total of 15 branch hospitals throughout Taiwan, with 24-hour emergency services at Taichung and Taipei branches, ensuring the highest level of professional medical care for your pets. Tel: 0800-284-666.