Dogs celebrated at Taiwan's first "Excellent Animal Care Teacher" awards ceremony

The 2025 Outstanding Animal Welfare Educator Awards ceremony featured several delightful moments, with two honoured teachers bringing their furry companions on stage to share in the glory. One of the pets even enthusiastically presented the presenter with a kiss. (Courtesy of the Life Conservation Association)

When the Shiba Inu enthusiastically kissed the award presenter on stage, the audience burst into laughter. This moment was not only the highlight of the "2025 Outstanding Animal Care Teacher Award Ceremony", but also allowed people to see the true power of animals in education.

Sponsored by the World Dog Alliance and organized by the Life Conservation Association, the awards ceremony took place in Taipei on September 20th. Twenty-four teachers from kindergarten, elementary school, junior high school, high school, and vocational school received awards. These teachers are not just educators, but also practitioners of animal conservation. Remarkably, several teachers brought their pets to receive their awards, sharing the honor. Two Shiba Inus on stage were the center of attention, bringing the warmth of animal conservation education to life.

The organiser, the Life Conservation Association, has published the results of the "2025 Outstanding Animal Welfare Educator Selection" on its website and extends its gratitude to the sponsoring organisations.

Lin Yinqi, an elementary school teacher in New Taipei City who won first place, has been promoting animal protection education for many years, striving for certification, promotion, and even administrative power. She now serves as the Dean of Students. Teacher Zhong Xiaosheng brought his two school dogs, Lai Wan and Lai Mania, to the event. Although he was unable to take the stage due to the "no dogs on the ground" rule, he specially invited Peter Singer, a giant in animal protection thought and author of "Animal Liberation," to pose for a photo with the school dogs, a photo that will become a lasting memory.

The ceremony's most moving moments came from short films presented by the four award-winning teachers. They reminisced about their first encounters with animals and recounted their experiences rescuing and adopting them, bringing tears to their eyes. For them, dogs were their mentors, guiding them on the path of animal protection education. These teachers, in turn, impacted lives with their own lives, inspiring their students to respect and care for animals, creating a continuous cycle of kindness. The weight of this sentiment is most vividly captured in the clip after 6:30.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prjeLMtq0Aw

This was more than just an awards ceremony; it was a spreading of love and light. When teachers and animals stood on stage together, we saw more than just awards; we saw a spreading conviction: to extend education that respects life from the campus to society, and to allow the seeds of love to sprout in more hearts.

Longgang Primary School's dogs, Laiwan and Laifeng, didn't get to take the stage, but they did secure a photo opportunity with animal rights heavy-weight Peter Singer holding their name tags.