Animal rescue relies on outsourcing and temporary staff; Changhua councilor points out lack of capacity

Central News Agency, Changhua, May 26. Changhua County Councilor Wu Wei-ta pointed out today that when animals are trapped in drains, citizens calling the dedicated hotline are often told that rescue is impossible due to a lack of equipment or because staff are off-duty on holidays. He argued that with only eight people handling animal protection in Changhua, the capacity is insufficient to effectively promote animal welfare. During the Changhua County Council session, Wu, a member of the Taiwan People's Party, questioned the county government on animal protection issues. He stated that the government should not push responsibility back onto citizens and demanded that the Animal Disease Control Center provide a written report on the complete intake process, decision-making for case assignment, and mechanisms for night and holiday operations. Wu noted that while the official staffing quota for the center is 35, the workload far exceeds current capacity. Compared to other counties, the gap in personnel for livestock disease control and pet protection is significant. Director Dong Meng-zhi of the Animal Disease Control Center responded that the 1959 hotline is handled by outsourced personnel who answer simple inquiries, while cases requiring specialized handling are assigned by department staff. He added that disease control cases are handled 24/7, but animal rescues are outsourced to animal welfare groups depending on urgency. Agriculture Department Director Guo Zhi-shan stated that while official quotas are limited, 18 temporary staff have been deployed to assist with animal protection duties.