Twenty-three county and city councilors in Taiwan were awarded the "Animal Protection Contribution Award".

Among the 23 county and city councilors who received the Animal Protection Contribution Award, Hsinchu City's Hsu Hsiu-jui is the city's speaker. The oversized certificate was also a highlight of the award ceremony.

On the eve of the 100th anniversary of "World Animal Day" on October 3, 2025, the "County and City Councilors' Animal Protection Contribution Award," jointly organized by the World Canine Organization, the Taiwan Animal Protection Administrative Supervision Alliance, and the Republic of China Animal Protection Association, held its award ceremony at the Legislative Yuan Red House. Although no animals attended, the lively scene was described by guests as "like a carnival!"

After years of holding the "Parliamentary Animal Protection Contribution Award," this is the first time that animal protection groups have set their sights on the 22 county and city councils in Taiwan. As a result, 35 county and city councilors participated either voluntarily or on recommendation, and a total of 23 county and city councilors were awarded the prize, covering 12 counties and cities. There were 12 women and 11 men, including one council speaker, which shows that animal protection issues in local councils have transcended the boundaries of gender and position, demonstrating diverse achievements.

Lorraine, the Taiwan representative of the World Dog Alliance, said that compared with "animal protection legislators", local councilors, although they do not have the power of central legislation, can implement the central framework to local needs through self-government ordinances and budget oversight, and become implementers and supervisors of whether the system can be implemented.

Most of the award-winning councilors participated in the drafting or revision of the Animal Protection Self-Government Ordinance and actively implemented administrative oversight. Their deeds also demonstrate a level of personal initiative rarely seen in members of parliament, such as establishing animal protection associations and promoting the sterilization of stray animals for many years; and co-organizing the "Friendly Animal Practice Project Roadshow" with animal protection groups. Nantou County Councilor Chien Chien-hsiang is particularly remarkable, having voluntarily acted as a "street animal farewell guardian" for many years, using his spare time to collect the remains of nearly a hundred cats and dogs that were tragically killed on the streets and give them a proper burial. Hsinchu County Councilor Chu Chien-ming is actively involved in investigating animal cruelty cases, ensuring that perpetrators do not escape legal punishment.

Nantou County Councilor Chien Chien-hsiang and his team have long been dedicated to retrieving and properly euthanizing cats and dogs that have tragically died on the streets.

The extra-large certificates prepared by the organizers for the winning councilors were another highlight of the event. The beautiful certificates, measuring 110 cm in length and 80 cm in height including the frame, made it convenient for representatives from the three organizers to hold and take photos with the winning councilors at the same time. However, it was somewhat difficult for individual councilors to hold the certificates for photos. For female councilors who came alone from Hualien and Kaohsiung to receive their awards, taking them home was an even greater challenge.

Animal rights councilors and animal-friendly cities have a close relationship, and the three organizers are also discussing holding an animal-friendly city selection in 2026, combining the 23 winning councilors to give them a boost!

The "County and City Councilors' Animal Protection Contribution Award," co-organized by the World Dog Alliance (WDA), is a major event commemorating the 100th anniversary of World Animal Day.