TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taipei City Animal Protection Office said it will hold 42 rabies vaccination sessions around the city beginning on Thursday and continuing until Sept. 4.

Each session will provide 100 free rabies vaccines for dogs and cats. Pet owners are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to ensure their animals are properly vaccinated to avoid fines, per a Taipei City press release.

TCAPO is working with seven administrative districts — Xinyi, Wenshan, Neihu, Nangang, Shilin, Beitou, and Daan District — to provide both rabies vaccines and pet registration for dogs and cats aged 3 months and older. Vaccination is required under the Statute for Prevention and Control of Infectious Animal Diseases.

Those who fail to vaccinate their pets may face a fine ranging from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000 (US$1,000 to $5,000). In addition, TCAPO will send text messages for pet owners to receive regular rabies booster shots each year.

Effective July 1, the city will relax rabies vaccination requirements for some domestic cats. Under the new policy, cats that are kept strictly indoors and are securely transported in carriers when taken outside will be exempt from the mandatory rabies vaccination requirement.

However, if cats are taken outdoors using a leash or other methods, or if there is a possibility of interaction with other animals and risk of escape, owners are required to have their cats vaccinated against rabies. The public is also reminded that incidents involving rabid wild animals biting people continue to occur in central and southern Taiwan.

In March, a ferret-badger infected with rabies was detected for the first time in Miaoli County's Gongguan Township. As both pet owners and their animals may come into contact with wildlife while outdoors, the public is urged to avoid touching wild animals and abandoning pets.

For more information on rabies and a schedule of free vaccination sessions, visit TCAPO’s dedicated rabies prevention webpage.