．邀訪來賓：台灣之心愛護動物協會 形象推廣組 吳家儀
*Friday Happy Hour in Formosa Episode #24 第24集*
台灣之心愛護動物協會HOTAC - 為台灣流浪犬貓發聲
HOTAC (Heart of Taiwan Animal Care) Solving Taiwan’s Stray Problem, one Step at a Time
人客來坐 My Taiwan Story
這個禮拜很高興邀請到台灣之心的家儀來跟大家聊一聊他們的協會。 台灣之心愛護動物協會（Heart of Taiwan Animal Care, HOTAC）成立於2012年，是一個非營利、非政府的民間組織。HOTAC的宗旨是希望能從問題的根源解決人與犬貓的衝突，透過溫柔、堅定的力量「為台灣流浪犬貓發聲」。HOTAC最終的目標是：「有一天，台灣成為人與動物和平共存的土地。」
「絕育行動」、「教育推廣」、「政策倡議」是世界公認解決流浪動物問題的「黃金三原則」。台灣之心愛護動物協會除了在推動流浪及放養犬貓絕育工作上不遺餘力，也積極參與各個動物保護相關法規及政策的倡議，同時也深入各級學校，宣導飼主責任與尊重生命的觀念。我們相信唯有以三管齊下的方式，才能有效的解決台灣流浪犬貓問題，希望透過不同階段的動物保護工作，讓台灣成為實質的動物友善社會。
如果你覺得他們很棒，也想一份力的話，其實除了 捐款 以外，也有很多可以辦助的方式哦~
像是：
1） 下鄉絕育行動的志工 ： 協助偏鄉辦理的下鄉絕育行動
2）全面絕育計畫的家訪志工 ：家訪志工將會跟著協會夥伴一起於大街小巷挨家挨戶進行家戶訪查，依照不同區域的密集程度，可能會開車、騎車或是徒步進行家訪，同時搭配GPS定位紀錄路線，確實拜訪每一戶人家。
3）駐紮志工隊 : 偏鄉、山區及離島地區駐紮志工既需要協助捕捉流浪犬貓；也需要在執行絕育手術協助術前理毛、術後照顧等事項。非常適合有冒險精神，想融入當地的夥伴！
4）送養志工隊 : 協助協會辦理的認養活動，幫助更多流浪貓狗找到一個溫暖的家！
5）後勤志工 : 協會平日因辦理愛心義賣、偏鄉絕育等等各式活動，時常需要處理龐大且繁瑣的行政和文書業務。此時，心靈手巧的後勤志工便成為協會強大的後盾！
還在等什麽！趕快去報名吧！
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I know there is a big animal-loving expat community living here in Taiwan. Maybe if you live in a bigger city, you wouldn't notice the stray animal problem in Taiwan. But if you live in the countryside, you will for sure encounter stray animals that have been abandoned by their owners. And if they are not spayed or neutered, they just keep on reproducing which makes this an even bigger problem to solve!
It's easy to think that this is an impossible task to solve and you might feel like you are the only one that's trying to do something about it! (whether you are just feeding these strays or even going as far as taking the animals into your own home to try to rehome them) BUT! Please know that there are help and resources out there. Many organizations (both private and public) are also trying to solve this issue.
One of these organizations is called Heart of Taiwan Animal Care (HOTAC) which I shared with you all last week. My cohost Jo and I volunteered in one of their free spay and neuter clinic recently. And this week I've invited Jia-Yee from HOTAC to talk to us about the rest of the awesome stuff they are doing to try to make a difference!
I know the interview was done entirely in Mandarin but I wanted to list all the different things HOTAC is doing so you can see if you would be interested in participating to help them resolve the stray animal issue on the island.
"Spay & Neuter"+ "Educating and Brining Awareness"+ "Policy Initiative" = the three golden rule that results in effectively decreasing the stray animal population. They understand that it will take awhile to see the final results but they are prepared for the long road ahead and that's why they need all the help they can get!
Different ways you can help! *Please note that you can ask a Taiwanese friend for help since HOTAC's website is only in Chinese.
1) donate money!
or you can sign up for the different volunteer opportunities they offer:
2) Remote Area Free Spay & Neuter Clinics: You can look for the dates of the clinics nearest you here!
3) TNR (Trapy & Release) Spay & Neuter Project: If know of any stray animals in your neighborhood, you can contact HOTAC to sign the strays for a free spay & neuter service. You will need to trap the animals yourself and bring the animals to the participating vet hospitals. But all the medical costs will be covered by HOTAC
4) REALLY Remote Areas & Off-shore Island Spay & Neuter Trips: Feeling adventurous? You can join this volunteer opportunity to visit remote areas lacking resources to help HOTAC look for animals that need to be spayed or neutered. (either strays or pets people own) *this is often an extended trip so think of it like a little field trip with a few other fellow animal lovers!
5) HOTAC is always looking for event volunteers for a variety of different events they host.
6) You can also help HOTAC foster a stray animal during its recovery after the spay & neuter surgery.
So many different ways to help! What are you waiting for?
