Protect the health of the hero dogs that sacredly save human lives in the rubble
The Royal Canin Foundation supports the project deployed in collaboration between Royal Canin HKTW Cluster and the Taiwan Working Dog Association to provide necessary and much-needed health care measures to 45 rescue dogs in Taiwan. The initiative aims to trains 10 vets to help these hero dogs and provides regular medical services, such as vaccination, parasite prevention, health check-ups, rehabilitation, etc. The vets will also take thorough emergency relief training, so they can accompany rescue dogs when on assignments in disaster scenes and give on-site treatments to rescue dogs who are injured or in danger.
WHAT DOES THE PROJECT SOLVE?
With 10 vets and 45 handlers, we have equipped professionals to provide better care and ensure that all 45 rescue dogs receive the healthcare they need. We have solved critical issues to minimize risks during their work and raise public awareness, advocating for the care of rescue dogs and rallying national attention.
The Taiwan Working Dog Association(TWDA) was established on September 21, 2021, with the mission to ensure the physical and mental well-being of working dogs and uphold their rights to animal welfare. The association aims to enhance the professional capabilities of dog handlers by providing access to expert knowledge in medical care and training. By gathering professional trainers and veterinarians, they offer comprehensive advice and support for the care of working dogs.
TWDA’s goals include regularly organizing specialized courses, advocating for amendments to existing regulations, and establishing medical, educational training, and retirement centers for working dogs. Additionally, they plan for the reallocation of unsuitable dogs to new roles or as family pets. The association comprises veterinarians with diverse expertise, dog handlers from various teams, professional trainers, and passionate individuals dedicated to supporting and protecting working dogs.
This program will allocate funding to support 45 rescue dogs and their dedicated handlers. Our mission is to enhance the handlers' ability to care for these remarkable dogs, ensuring they receive a superior care environment and all necessary medical attention and emergency rescue equipment.
This two-year project focuses on meeting the medical needs of rescue dogs, including vaccinations, parasite prevention, health check-ups, and emergency medical care at disaster sites. We are also committed to providing routine health care through a team of 10 professional veterinarians, who will accompany the search teams to disaster sites as needed. This ensures that the dogs receive timely diagnosis and treatment during their missions. To further enhance their capability, these veterinarians will undergo search and rescue training, allowing them to effectively address the medical needs of the dogs even in critical situations.
This project will help the Taiwan Working Dog Association to provide necessary and much-needed health care measures to 45 rescue dogs in Taiwan by training 10 vets to help these heroes. In addition to providing regular medical services, such as vaccination, parasite prevention, health check-ups, rehabilitation…etc., the vets will also take thorough emergency relief training themselves, so that they can accompany rescue dogs when on assignments and give on-site treatments when they are injured or in danger. This is one of its one-of-a-kind initiatives that serves as a “call-out” in raising awareness for people to respect rescue dogs and inspire more vets to support voluntarily in this field. Leveraging this initiative, the public will raise their overall awareness of how pets make our world better to create an environment where people believe they should create a better world for pets as well.
“A veterinarian's mission goes beyond caring for pets; it encompasses protecting and valuing more lives. In the face of danger, search and rescue dogs bravely complete their missions, often without fully understanding the risks involved. While these animals contribute significantly to human society, our goal is to leverage veterinary expertise to provide search and rescue dogs with the appropriate medical care they deserve. “
President of Taiwan Working Dog Association, Hsinling Kuan
"During major disasters, the injury and fatality rates for search and rescue dogs are extremely high. Like humans, they require immediate medical treatment. Without the assistance of veterinarians, the mortality rate for these dogs could exceed 90%. During the Hualien earthquake in April 2024, our rescue teams encountered sudden landslides, but fortunately, both the team members and the dogs remained safe.
We hope to enhance the overall system for search and rescue dogs. After investing so much time in training internationally certified search and rescue dogs, it is only right that we also take on the responsibility of protecting them. We are grateful for this program, which provides regular health care plans for our search and rescue dogs who unconditionally protect and rescue us on the front lines. This support helps sustain them through their intense training and reduces the risks they face while on duty."
Luo Hao-fang, Canine Handler, New Taipei City Fire Department.
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