Taipei: The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) has announced a new initiative to encourage pet registration, unveiling a lottery set to launch in September. The lottery will offer 30,000 "pet gift cards" each worth NT$300 (US$9.42) and 100 pet health-check packages valued at NT$3,000 to owners of registered dogs and cats.
According to Focus Taiwan, these gift cards can be redeemed for pet food or agricultural products at 436 participating stores. Additionally, the health check packages are redeemable at licensed veterinary institutions, allowing receipts to be reimbursed up to NT$3,000. The ministry detailed that pet owners can access the "Pet Owners' Section" of the MOA's Pet Registration Information System from September 1 to 30 to verify their pets' registration information and enter the draw. Each registered dog or cat is eligible for a single entry in the lottery.
The initiative restricts eligibility to individuals, excluding legal entities, and allows owners who register their pets by September 30 to participate. The lottery draw is scheduled for October 2 and will be streamed live on the Animal Welfare Information Website YouTube channel.
Chiang Wen-chuan, Director of the MOA Department of Animal Welfare, emphasized that pet registration is crucial for establishing clear identification records, improving the chances of recovering lost pets, and supporting vaccination, spaying, and neutering programs. Pet registration is also a key element in controlling Taiwan's stray dog population.
Under the Animal Protection Act, it is mandatory for dogs and cats to be registered within four months of birth, with penalties ranging from NT$3,000 to NT$15,000 for non-compliance. The MOA reported an estimated 1.46 million pet dogs in Taiwan by 2025, with microchipping rates rising from 61.84 percent in 2021 to 75.47 percent. Cat registration, which became mandatory on January 1, 2026, shows an increase in microchipping from 49.83 percent in 2023 to 63.75 percent in 2025, as per MOA data.