Taiwan to include service dogs in insurance coverage
台灣將執勤犬納入保險範圍
| Initiative aims to care for working dogs, with insurance provided by Nan Shan
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Agriculture Minister Chen Chun-chi (陳駿季) said Monday the ministry will begin including service dogs working for the government in pet insurance policies starting in September. Chen said the initiative is part of the government's effort to care for service dogs. Nan Shan General Insurance Co. will provide the insurance, and the ministry will cover the premiums, per CNA. The company said the annual premium for each insured dog is around NT$13,300 (US$425). The program includes a clinic visit reimbursement of NT$1,200 per visit, covering up to five visits annually. It also provides NT$5,000 for hospitalization reimbursement, NT$40,000 for surgery coverage, and NT$5,000 for funeral expenses. As of March, Taiwan has 292 working dogs engaged in high-risk duties such as border quarantine, drug detection, disaster search and rescue, and public security, Chen said. However, he noted that most insurance companies exclude these dogs from pet insurance policies, as they are not considered household pets. Chen added that the coverage is set to include medical expenses for retired service dogs, with partial subsidies provided by the ministry. He also called on more insurance companies in Taiwan to offer insurance programs for service dogs. Taiwan Working Dog Association Chair Kuanh Sin-ling (關心羚) emphasized the need for this coverage, noting that heatstroke is the most common occupational injury among working dogs. She added that these dogs also face a high risk of respiratory injuries in disaster areas, incurring substantial medical costs that often exceed limited government funding. Kuanh said that working dogs typically begin their duties at the age of two and retire after an average of four to seven years, with the option for the public to adopt them. She highlighted that the government currently only provides subsidies for the food costs of retired service dogs. Kuanh hopes the government will launch a comprehensive medical subsidy plan to care for these dogs in their later years. DPP Legislator Chen Pei-yu (陳培瑜) said that while the government has formed working dog units, limited funding makes it difficult to meet their basic needs. She suggested the government include essential items such as health checkups, on-site veterinarians, medication, and retirement care for these dogs in its budget planning. |
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| Carol Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer | |
| 2025-06-24 |
