WDA Participates in Taiwan’s Pet Business Audits: Protecting Dogs and Cats at the Source

(Reported by Lu You-lun, World Dog Alliance Correspondent / September 30, 2026)

As dogs and cats enter millions of households and are embraced as family members entitled to dignity and vital rights, pet industry regulations around the world are becoming increasingly stringent. While Taiwan has not enacted blanket retail sales bans on dogs and cats in pet shops—as some nations or municipalities have done—it has instituted a rigorous licensing, auditing, and evaluation framework for "specific pet businesses" to curb illicit breeding, unethical sales, and neglected care at the source. Through collaborative oversight by both government authorities and civil society, the system seeks to elevate animal welfare standards across breeding facilities, sales outlets, and boarding environments.

Understanding Taiwan's Statutory Term: "Specific Pet Business"

Under Article 22 of Taiwan's Animal Protection Act, any commercial enterprise engaged in the "breeding," "trading," or "boarding" (including pet hotels and daycare) of dogs or cats for profit is legally designated as a "Specific Pet Business".   

Operators must submit an application to local competent authorities. Licenses—valid for a maximum term of three years—are granted only after rigorous on-site inspections verify that facility infrastructure satisfies statutory animal welfare standards and that qualified full-time personnel are deployed on-site. Operating without a valid license constitutes an illegal offense.   

While animal protection organizations have long advocated legally replacing or distinguishing the traditional concept of "pet" with "companion animal," this legislative overhaul remains incomplete due to its sweeping structural impact on Taiwan’s overarching legal framework. Under the existing statutory regime, the Regulations for Specific Pet Business Administration explicitly classify dogs and cats as "specific pets," placing breeding, commercial sales, and boarding facilities under dedicated regulatory governance.   

Rise in Boarding Services: The Evolving Landscape of the Pet Industry

Data from the Ministry of Agriculture’s "Specific Pet Business Management System" shows that there are currently approximately 3,400 legally licensed specific pet businesses across Taiwan.   

In recent years, the profile of the pet sector has undergone a clear structural shift. Businesses focused purely on retail sales have declined, while licensed establishments offering boarding services have surpassed 2,700. As the ethos of "adopt, don't shop" gains widespread acceptance and consumer demand for professional animal care increases, boarding facilities—especially dedicated pet hotels and daytime care centers—have become a pillar of the sector and a focal point of regulatory oversight.   

Dual Oversight Mechanism: Annual Audits and Biennial Evaluations

To ensure that commercial facilities uphold animal welfare, statutory regulations establish a two-pronged mechanism consisting of "Annual Audits" and "Periodic Evaluations," with operational specifics administered by local city and county governments:   

1. Annual Audits (Once annually, with discretionary follow-ups): Conducted via on-site inspections by municipal animal protection inspectors. Core inspection items include ambient temperature, humidity, and ventilation controls; exercise spaces; microchip implantation compliance; mandatory vaccinations; and detailed traceability ledgers documenting breeding and transaction records. Where non-compliance is identified, competent authorities may order rectification within a prescribed timeframe, impose financial penalties, or revoke operational licenses depending on the severity of the violation.   

2. Institutional Evaluations (At least once every two years): Administered by joint evaluation panels convened by authorities, bringing together animal protection NGO representatives, academic experts, industry professionals, and civil servants. Panelists conduct comprehensive on-site scoring across facility infrastructure, daily husbandry and care management, traceability and disposition of retired dogs and cats, consumer protection protocols, and local statutory metrics. Final outcomes are graded into four official tiers—"Excellent, Class A, Class B, and Class C"—and published transparently online. Establishments graded Class C are mandated to complete remedial improvements within three months and are placed on prioritized surveillance lists.   

   
   

Field Inspections in New Taipei City: Realities Across Industry Models

On September 21, representatives from the World Dog Alliance participated in the secondary review session for the New Taipei City Specific Pet Business Audits and Evaluations. During the morning session, the panel reviewed initial evaluation reports covering 437 local licensed operators one by one. In the afternoon, the committee conducted random on-site inspections at three facilities: a canine breeding facility, a feline cattery, and an integrated establishment combining pet grooming, live animal sales, and pet supply retail.   

These field visits provided evaluators with direct visibility into the practical welfare challenges encountered across diverse operational models. In the dog breeding facility, inspectors noted that even when cage confinement is reduced, maintaining thorough environmental sanitation, proper air exchange, and odor mitigation remains an ongoing challenge. Conversely, inside the cattery housing approximately 80 pedigree cats, no discernible odors were present, demonstrating that rigorous cleaning routines, proper ventilation systems, and disciplined daily husbandry can achieve superior welfare standards even in high-density facilities.   

A notable finding emerged inside the integrated pet store, where three British Shorthairs had remained in display enclosures from kittenhood through adulthood without being sold. The proprietor acknowledged that live animal retail faces mounting commercial headwinds. This reality illustrates that beyond statutory compliance, regulatory frameworks must rigorously examine breeding quotas, fluctuating market demand, and the lifelong welfare and final placement of unsold and retired animals.   

Advancing Companion Animal Dignity Through Institutional Oversight

The World Dog Alliance has long advocated elevating the legal and moral status of dogs and cats as companion animals. Participating in the specific pet business auditing and evaluation process represents a concrete component of civil society's role in institutional checks and balances.   

WDA remains dedicated to collaborating with government authorities, animal protection peers, and conscientious commercial operators to continually raise industry benchmarks—ensuring that every dog and cat destined for human families receives the protections and dignity appropriate to their identity as true "companion animals."