On June 7, 2022, the Council of Agriculture (COA), Executive Yuan, announced the draft notice of “Prohibition on the Entry and Transportation of Dogs, Cats, and Other Mammals into Forest Recreation Areas, Lalashan Sacred Tree Reserve, and Forest Parks.” The notice is scheduled to come into effect after the 30-day notice period on August 1, 2022 and will end on July 31, 2024. In addition to the previous announcement that Linhousilin Forest Park will be allowing visitors to bring pets, conditional entry of pet dogs, cats, and other mammals will now be trialed at the National Forest Recreation Areas of Neidong, Chihnan, Jhihben, and certain parts of Danongdafu Forest Park. However, visitors are still prohibited from bringing dogs, cats, and other mammals into the following 20 ecologically sensitive locations: the forest recreation areas of Taipingshan, Manyueyuan, Dongyanshan, Guanwu, Dasyueshan, Basianshan, Wuling, Hehuanshan, Aowanda, Alishan, Tengjhih, Shuangliu, Kenting, Xiangyang, Fuyuan, Cilan, Mingchi, and Huisun Forest Area, as well as Aogu Wetlands Forest Park, and Lalashan Sacred Tree Reserve. The four sites that are now open for the trial entry of pets and Linhousilin Forest Park, which already allows entry, are all areas located at low altitude with convenient transportation and close to settlements with human activities. Furthermore, to protect the natural habitat, pets are still prohibited entry to the ecologically sensitive areas and trails in the parks, and visitors who bring their pets into the parks are only allowed to move around within the designated areas. For example, in the Neidong National Forest Recreation Area, pet activities are limited to the Waterfall Trail (the main trail from the starting point to the Leshui Bridge); in Jhihben National Forest Recreation Area, only the scenic trail is open to pets; in Chihnan National Forest Recreation Area, only the trail facility site of Liyushan Trail is open to pets; in Danongdafu Forest Park, only the main lawn area is open; while the entire Linhousilin Forest Park area is open to pets. The Forestry Bureau would like to remind the public that visitors must comply with the following regulations if pets are to be brought into these designated forest recreation areas and parks: 1. An admission form must be filled out for pet dogs, cats, and other mammals (hereinafter referred to as pets) before entering the park area. 2. Visitors must bring valid pet registration documentation (certificate or microchip) and proof of rabies vaccination (certificate or rabies tag) to enter the park area. If the relevant documentation cannot be shown, visitors will not be allowed to bring their pets into the park. They will be required to leave the pets at a toll booth or control post and sign a boarding form before entering the park. The boarding period is limited to the opening hours of the same day. 3. Pets must be placed in carrier bags, cages, strollers, or other carrier equipment that can restrict pet activities in the park, otherwise pets must be properly tethered (maximum length of the leash is 1.5 meters), and any contact with wildlife is strictly prohibited. 4. Pets are not allowed to enter non-designated areas. 5. If pets disobey commands or act aggressively, the owner is required to remove them from the park immediately. In case of conflict in the park, the owner shall be held responsible for any litigation or compensation. 6. Pet food must not be left in the park. 7. Please clean up pet excrement as you go, and throw away the waste in the garbage cans. 8. Visitors must uphold their responsibility to maintain the safety and cleanliness of the parks. 9. If the above regulations are not complied with upon request, the management unit may request the pet owner to leave the park immediately with the pet, and the owner may not ask for refund or compensation. The Forestry Bureau emphasized that in order to prevent the spread of rabies, visitors who bring dogs, cats, and other mammals into the forest recreation areas and parks open to pet entry on a trial basis should abide by the relevant regulations and laws, and must not touch or feed wild animals. Furthermore, visitors should immediately report any animal suspected of being infected with rabies to the animal disease prevention authorities or Forest District Offices to ensure the safety of pets, owners, and visitors. We ask for the support and understanding of the public in the prevention of rabies. If you have any related comments during the review period, please send them to the following email address: m2577@forest.gov.tw. After the Forestry Bureau consolidates all feedback and completes a full assessment, the final result will be processed through administrative procedures and announced.
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