New Taipei's Dreamy Animal Shelter Opens: A "Beautiful Church" for Taiwan's Furry Friends

Mayor Hou You-yi Opens State-of-the-Art Shelter in Ruifang, Setting a New Standard for Animal Welfare in Taiwan.

Ruifang Animal Shelter in New Taipei City officially opened its doors today, drawing praise for its innovative design and commitment to animal welfare. The shelter, envisioned with input from international experts, has been lauded as the most "dreamy" animal shelter in the nation.

New Taipei City Mayor 侯友宜 (Hou You-yi) described the building as a "beautiful church," highlighting its architectural beauty. He emphasized the focus on animal comfort within the facility, expressing his hope that it would serve as a new benchmark for animal shelters across Taiwan.

The New Taipei City Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office explained that the previous Ruifang Animal Shelter was established in 1990 after renovating older buildings. In 2021, the office planned to demolish and rebuild the shelter on the same site. The total construction cost was approximately NT$102.6 million, with about NT$40 million subsidized by the central government. The new shelter is designed to accommodate up to 150 dogs and cats at once, with an estimated annual adoption rate of around 1,000 animals.