VET CARES FOR UNWANTED PETS IN SHELTER|獸醫黃繼霆 守護流浪貓狗五年如一日

Today in Vital Taiwan we are going to take you to look at Taipei City's Zhonghe animal shelter. In the first half of this year, over 1,000 cats and dogs have entered the shelter. As more people become aware of the problem of abandoned animals, vet Huang Ji-ting has worked here steadily for five years, wanting to keep the former pets healthy and find them loving homes. At 8 am, Dr Huang, vet at New Taipei City's Zhonghe animal shelter puts on his vet's jacket. He has worked here for five years. He brings a dog that needs inoculations and a microchip to the operating table and starts his day's work. Each dog that comes in is scared and shaking. Huang comforts the dogs as gently as he would a child. ==Dr Huang, vet at New Taipei City's Zhonghe animal shelter== It's the interaction with animals that makes some people feel better than that with humans. Zhonghe's animal shelter saw 2,647 animals enter its doors last year. Dr. Huang undertakes all their medical treatment himself as well as the complex administration. He burns the candle at both ends on a regular basis, what motivates him? ==Dr Huang, vet at New Taipei City's Zhonghe animal shelter== Actually, I couldn't bear to leave, of course, I've had opportunities, many times, to leave this place, but then I think of all the effort I've put in and I do hope this animal shelter can improve. Keeping surgeries germ-free is a big challenge for the shelter. It is harder than when he was working at a National Taiwan University vet surgery. The facilities at the shelter are basic, and there is a lack of staff. Huang takes on all the roles, he disinfects and does surgery. He is used to the busy pace of work here. His colleagues all admire him. ==DR HUANG, vet at New Taipei City's Zhonghe animal shelter== As there is only me, if I am in surgery, they just have to wait. ==WANG LI-LING, animal shelter worker== There are very few vets like him. He is really conscientious in looking after our animals. Now there are many of them, so he really has to work very hard. They say they are too loud, they are allergic to them, they don't have time for them, they move house. There is a reason for each former pet which is abandoned. In March this year, New Taipei City started a no-kill policy at animal shelters, so the number of animals in shelters rose fast. Huang started a facebook page hoping that people would take an interest in these former pets. The page has over 2,000 friends and Huang works hard to keep it going and find opportunities for the pets to be adopted. His hard work is acknowledged by those who see the facebook page. ==LUO XU-YING, member of public== Because the information he posts is all really good, he's on facebook and it's always being updated and there are always new cats and dogs there. Everyday Huang gets to know the new dogs that come in. He has many bite marks and scratches to prove it. In his five years of vet training, he wasn't taught to value life, but he instinctively feels that the life of every cat and dog is valuable. ==DR HUANG, vet at New Taipei City's Zhonghe animal shelter== Whether a country is civilized or not can be seen in it's treatment of animals. The way we treat animals needs to be kinder and more responsible. The number of animals in shelters is rising, but the numbers of people adopting is not keeping pace. How can people be educated right from the start in responsible attitudes? Huang hopes the government can take a look at legislation in other countries, and improve the environment for pet dogs and cats in Taiwan. As a vet in an animal shelter he has to remain strong and continue to be a guardian for the former pets as best he can. TRANSLATED BY：CLARE LEAR 新北市中和的動物之家，今年上半年，入所的狗貓數量已經突破一千隻，當有越來越多人關心流浪狗議題時，有一位獸醫黃繼霆已經在這裡堅持了五年多的時間，希望讓更多流浪動物能夠健健康康，找到一個疼愛他們的家。 早上八點半、換上手術衣，他是新北市中和動物之家的獸醫黃繼霆，五年來如一日，翻資料確認，做好前置作業，將今天要打疫苗和晶片的狗狗帶進手術室，展開一天的工作。每隻狗狗被帶進來,都是眼神驚恐、身體發抖，讓人看了心疼，黃繼霆安撫著狗狗，動作間流露出對毛小孩的疼愛。 ==中和動物之家獸醫 黃繼霆== 其實就是跟動物之間的互動 其實就是會讓人 我覺得啦 會讓人覺得比對人之間 還要 還要好 中和動物之家,光是去年入所的狗狗和貓咪的數量就有2647隻，由黃繼霆獨自負責所有的醫療作業，再加上行政事務龐雜，常常讓他蠟燭兩頭燒，究竟是什麼理由，讓他願意堅持下去? ==中和動物之家獸醫 黃繼霆== 說實在要離開 其實也會捨不得 當然是有機會 其實有很多次 有機會可以離開這裡 但是就是 其實會想到之前努力到現在 會希望這裡 動物之家可以變得更好 維持手術的無菌，是動物之家的一大考驗，比起之前他在台大動物醫院擔任住院醫師，動物之家的設備簡單,人手也不足，所以黃繼霆一人身兼多職，又消毒、又做手術，現在上手了，也就習慣了這樣的忙碌工作，同事們都很佩服他。 ==中和動物之家獸醫 黃繼霆== 因為只有(我)一個人 如果我在手術他們就得等 ==動保員 王莉玲== 很少有醫生像他這樣子 然後他又很努力 對我們動物的照顧 因為現在動物多 所以他其實是相當的辛苦的 叫聲太吵、過敏、沒時間養、搬家...等等，每隻毛小孩被棄養，都有不同的理由.新北市今年三月開始實施"零安樂"政策之後，收容數量有增無減。因此黃繼霆開設了粉絲專頁，希望讓大家一起關注毛小孩，粉絲人數高達兩千多人，全靠他的用心經營讓狗狗們增加宣傳的機會，也讓有心認養的民眾,看見牠們真實的一面。 ==民眾 羅旭英== 因為他們訊息PO得很好 他們都會上FB 然後不定期的一直更新 然後就是會有新的小貓啊 或是小狗啊這樣子 每天都和新進來的狗狗搏感情、手上被抓咬的傷口當然也不少，五年的獸醫教育裡，並沒有教生命課程，但是黃繼霆知道，生命沒有貴賤，每隻狗狗貓貓都該被真心對待。 ==中和動物之家 獸醫 黃繼霆== 一個國家偉不偉大 其實就看他的民眾怎麼對待動物 其實我們對待動物 就是應該要更友善 或者是對牠們更負責任 面對流浪動物和領養數量不成比例，如何從源頭管理,培養民眾正確的飼養觀念?黃繼霆希望政府能夠參考國外法律，營造台灣對狗狗貓貓更友善的環境，在動物之家奮戰的他，要抱著初衷，繼續成為毛小孩最堅強的守護者。 記者 朱鳳治 陳彥霖 新北市報導