Staff at Pingtung animal shelter shares office space with cats

Staff at Pingtung animal shelter shares office space with cats

2025-06-19

Instead of a separate quarter for the cats, Pingtung County Animal Shelter has them right beside the cubicles. Staff says the cats were moved into the office from another room so that prospective adopters can see them as soon as they walk in. In addition to the rescues, the workers there are also allowed to bring their own pets to work, which they enjoy very much.

Many cat enclosures are placed together, each with a cute kitty or two inside. When it’s time to feed them, staff cracks open a can and adds a dollop to each bowl.

This is Pingtung County Animal Shelter. People looking to adopt a cat or a dog can come take a look here. But zoom over, and you’ll notice the cubicles right by the enclosures. Why? A Pingtung councilor believes it’s because the budget for taking care of the animals decreased this year, and the shelter only did so to save on air conditioning. But how do they feel about this?

Yan Hsing-chuan
Pingtung County Animal Shelter
It’s so that it’s more convenient for us to give them out and take care of. You can see that the cats can be seen as soon as you enter from the front gate. The room next door also houses cats. They were originally in a room right across the courtyard, so if it rained, prospective adopters would have to walk through the rain, which inconveniences them.

Meanwhile, a dog relaxes on the floor. It’s not just a space for rescues. Staff can also bring their own fur babies to work.

Yan Hsing-chuan
Pingtung County Animal Shelter
Our staff loves cats and dogs, so it’s a pet-friendly space. Our staff can bring their dogs and cats to work. They’re also happy to be close to the cats.

Chen Mei-chih
Pingtung County agriculture department
The number of dogs and cats in our shelter has increased rapidly. At the end of last year, our animal protection branch allotted a greater total budget for animal protection for this reason.

The number of dogs and cats at Pingtung County Animal Shelter saw a quick increase after it was officially inaugurated in 2024 and took over operations from a local university. Therefore, the county government says it also allocated a greater total budget for 2025, at NT$17.55 million, 76% of which is for the animals’ care. That means each cat or dog has a budget of between NT$65 to NT$110 every day. The county government also says that if needed, they will consider increasing the budget if the current level proves insufficient.

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#pets #cats #cutecats #animalshelter #animalrescue #adoptdontshop

屏東動物之家"人貓同擠一室" 工作人員:考量動線方便

2025-06-19

屏東縣動物之家出現人和貓，一起擠在同一間辦公室工作的景象，讓縣議員陳揚見狀後，特別在質詢中為他們發聲，擔心是因為相關預算不足，要省冷氣費，才會人寵共處一室，不過工作人員說，這是考量動線方便，而且員工都很喜歡寵物，跟牠們共處在一起其實非常開心。

好幾個籠子擺在一起，裡面飼養著可愛的小貓咪們，等到放飯時間，工作人員拿罐頭來餵食，小貓咪的眼睛，一個個都亮了起來。

這裡是屏東縣的動物之家，民眾想要領養動物，都能來這裡找找看，有沒有適合自己的毛寶貝，
過往旁邊一看，這空間裡面竟然還有員工的辦公桌，這樣的景象，讓議員擔心是否因為預算一年比一年少，員工為了省冷氣費，才會這麼做？

[[屏東縣動物之家人員顏杏娟]]
“基於我們送養跟照顧的方便，我們的動線問題，是從大門口進來，其實這邊是最直接，快速可以看到貓的地方，跟隔壁的那一間，原本設計是在對面，動線問題就是如果像現在下大雨，你必須淋雨過去，其實對認養人是不方便的”

而在辦公室內，也能看到有狗狗趴在地上慵懶休息，這個地方不只收容犬貓，員工也能帶自家寶貝來上班。

[[屏東縣動物之家人員顏杏娟]]
“我們的員工都很愛貓狗，所以我們是一個友善的空間，我們的員工是可以帶狗跟貓來上班的，所以他們很希望這樣跟貓接近，是很開心的”

[[屏東縣農業處副處長陳美智]]
“本縣的犬貓收容數量有快速增加，本處的動保科在去年底，就因應這樣的情事，也來針對這個動保的預算來加以增加”

屏東縣動物之家自113年啟用之後，犬貓收容的數量就快速增加，因此縣府也在編列預算上做了考量，114動物之家預算編列了1755萬元，其中有百分之76用在照顧動物，平均在一隻動物，一天的花費會落在65元到110元的區間，若真的經過檢討預算不足，也會視情況考量是否增加。

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As the Israel-Iran conflict escalates, many are wondering whether the government has plans to evacuate nationals in the two countries. Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Israel has started allowing Chinese nationals to register for evacuation. What they consider Chinese nationals included holders of China’s travel permit for Taiwanese people. The Mainland Affairs Council condemned China for the opportunist move to appear as a protector of the Taiwanese, and said the Taiwanese government will do its utmost to support its people.

A fire breaks out and engulfs the buildings. As the Israel-Iran conflict escalates, such a scene can be seen in many places in both countries.

Amid the escalation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says to date, 20 nationals have left Israel since the first strike, while a little over 270 remain there. As for Iran, there are nine nationals there and three have safely departed.

Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Israel announced that starting on the 20th, they will assist Chinese nationals in leaving the country in organized groups. Those who register for evacuation with them must hold a Chinese passport or travel document, including Hong Kong and Macao passports. Even holders of the Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Resident can register. The Mainland Affairs Council slams the decision as taking advantage of Taiwan.

Liang Wen-chieh
Mainland Affairs Council spokesperson
Everytime something like this happens internationally, the CCP will always announce that Taiwanese people holding a Taiwan Compatriot Permit can seek assistance from their embassies. That’s what the CCP has always done. For the CCP, it’s of course imperative that they present themselves as protectors of the people of Taiwan. But our diplomatic organizations will also do our utmost to protect our compatriots. This isn’t something that’s only started today, and it won’t see an end either.

Meanwhile, Taiwan has yet to formally evacuate citizens from Israel or Iran. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is keeping in contact with nationals in the two countries, and will offer assistance when needed or requested to.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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School staff transform fallen flowers and grass fields into artworks

This graduation season, red poinciana flowers have been in full bloom. Rather than throw away the flowers after they fall, a security guard at Tamsui’s Xinshi Elementary School arranges them into intricate patterns at the school’s entrance. He creates different designs each day, including cartoon characters, capybara, and tigers. At another school, the groundskeeper cuts the grass in large patterns visible from above, often leaving messages for the students.

Lin Yung-chi
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Sweep the area to keep it clean, but these poinciana flowers and too beautiful to throw away. But give this guy a broom, and he can turn them into Chiikawa.

This scene is outside an elementary school, but the school didn’t hire an artist. It’s the security guard, inspired by the falling flowers, who used two brooms and his imagination to surprise students when they come to school.

Cheng Hsueh-wu
Security guard
I used to work in advertisement design. Lot of kids really don’t like coming to school and one came to me to make a wish. Then I designed these things, and he really liked it, and it made him want to come to school. His parents were also very pleased and thanked me, which meant a lot to me.

Mr. Cheng, the security guard at Tamsui’s Xinshi Elementary School, used to be an advertisement designer. After coming to work at the school, he shows his artistic prowess every time poinciana flowers bloom, turning the fallen flowers into chubby capybaras, Winnie the Pooh, tigers, and even paper airplanes to wish graduating students a bright future. At another elementary school, a groundskeeper creates a different kind of art for the students.

Here at Tamsui’s Xinxing Elementary School, the groundskeeper makes large patterns cut into the grass, treating the field as his canvas. He mowed the Chinese characters shangyong, meaning bravery, with an image of Taiwan above. His works are often seasonal, making the “spring” character or ingots for the Lunar New Year. During the pandemic, he even made a four-character message praising Taiwan for having no additional COVID cases for the day.

Lin Min-chih
School groundskeeper
I’ve liked drawing since I was young, so I am particularly interested in this kind of aesthetic. It takes maybe three to five days to draw and lay out the lines, but just one day to cut the grass. The kids make requests, asking what I want to make or what they want, and I do my best to make it.

Talented people can be found everywhere, especially at schools, where staff use their artistic skills to make something special for the students.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Child battling health challenges wins Presidential Education Award

Yin Ya-shan, a sixth grader at Taoyuan’s Nanmen Elementary School, is one of the winners of this year’s Presidential Education Awards. The award recognizes students who manage to thrive and excel under difficult circumstances, which is a mild way to describe Yin’s circumstances. She was born with multiple illnesses and by the age of 4, she had undergone eight major surgeries. Now, every day, she needs to carry a 5kg oxygen machine on her tiny back and wears a thin breathing tube on her face to stay alive. However, she’s an optimistic child and wants to set up a foundation in the future to help others.

The child playing beautiful melodies onstage is Yin Ya-shan, a student at Nanmen Elementary School in Taoyuan. In addition to playing the piano, she’s quite a talented painter. The walls of her home are all covered with her artworks.

She can perform all kinds of songs and dances, just like any other child. Ya-shan was born with umbilical fissures, biliary atresia, heart disease and other conditions. By the age of 4, she had undergone eight operations. After a long battle with serious illnesses, she now has to use a ventilator 24 hours a day.

Yin Ya-shan
Presidential Education Award winner
This is a must-have item for my physical education class. Since I consume a lot of oxygen when I run or exercise, this oxygen machine doesn’t supply enough so I have to use a large steel canister.

Yin Ya-shan’s mother
These kinds of children have such a hard time. In fact, it is not just Ya-shan. There are many special education children. They actually have many families undergoing hardships, which is something nobody sees.

Everyday her tiny body must carry an oxygen machine weighing 4kg to 5kg on her back and wear a thin breathing tube on her face. However, Ya-shan refuses to bow to fate. She is optimistic and actively takes part in charity events, and this year she won a Presidential Education Award. In the future, she says she wants to set up an association for those who are fighting for their lives.

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She’s naturally optimistic and full of smiles. Every breath she takes is to survive. She is an inspiration to all the students in our school.

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In a partnership with Disney, a wedding business has unveiled five enchanting wedding designs inspired by beloved Disney princesses. From vibrant visuals and fairytale-themed backdrops to classic fairytale music, castle-like carpets, and themed table cards, these magical weddings are sure to make every bride feel like royalty.

Classic Disney music accompanies the bride and groom as they dance down the aisle in beautiful Disney-themed outfits. These Disney-themed weddings have become a popular choice for couples to fulfill their childhood wedding dreams.

Groom
Her favorite is Aladdin. It’s great that we can use Disney themes in Taiwan and fulfill my wife’s dream.

Bride
There isn’t really a specific limit to the wedding budget. I wanted the wedding to have a theme to make it feel more cohesive. There will be about 10 tables or so, so the cost isn’t an issue.

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If I was to have a wedding now, I would hope to fulfill my dream. I really liked Disney when I was young. I really liked all the songs and characters. I would want to have fun and the guests to enjoy the experience, so a lot of details from Disney could be used.

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Lately the sky in Yilan’s Sanxing area has had a green tint, which some people have mistaken for an aurora. This phenomenon is actually caused by green lights at Sanxing’s green onion farms, used to drive away the crop’s most infamous pest: the beet armyworm. The lights make the pest think it’s daytime, thereby reducing their activity. They help the green onions grow pest-free and make the local sky more colorful.

Looking over the roof of this house, there appears to be an aurora in the distance. But with Taiwan being a subtropical country, it’s unlikely that the famous northern lights would appear here. Taking a closer look at the site, this colorful haze is actually from green lights at a green onion farm, which are used to keep away pests.

Green onion farmer
Lots of people here say, “Why does your field look like an airport?” Because the airport runways also use green lights. I tell them it’s not an airport! It’s meant to keep those moths away!

Sanxing green onions’ biggest enemy is the beet armyworm, which grows into the small mottled willow moth. This pest usually hides during the day and comes out at night. But these lights make it think it’s still daytime, reducing its activity overnight and protecting the green onions. Green light in particular has been shown to help green onions grow.

Green onion farmer
Once it lights up, the moths won’t come near the green onion field. If they do come, they won’t lay eggs and reproduce here. If they don’t lay eggs, then there isn’t a pest problem.

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Some moths are nocturnal—they rest during the day and are active at night. Originally, we used white lights, which were actually effective, but we were still not satisfied. I asked them if they wanted to try different lights and see how effective they are. In the end we found that green lights are the most suitable.

Tests have confirmed that green lights are effective at pest control, but cost is still a major issue. Authorities reported that it costs NT$15,000 to install the lights on one plot of land, and the monthly electricity fee amounts to NT$500. This may seem like a lot, but it’s about the same as the cost of using pesticides, and it’s much more environmentally friendly.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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