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# Taiwan Opens First Park-Style Animal Shelter, Transforming Former Cemetery Into Haven for Stray Animals
- URL: https://www.wwconemedia.com/taiwan-opens-first-park-style-animal-shelter-transforming-former-cemetery-into-haven-for-stray-animals/
- Published: 2026-09-07T00:50:10.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-07T00:50:10.000Z
- Author: WWC NEWSDESK
- Tags: TAIWAN

**TAINAN, Taiwan —** A former cemetery in southern Taiwan has been given a remarkable second life.

Tainan City has officially opened what it describes as **Taiwan's first park-style animal protection and education center**, transforming the former Xuejia Sixth Cemetery into a sprawling facility designed not only to shelter stray animals but also to promote adoption, responsible pet ownership and public education.

The **Xuejia Multifunctional Educational Park** opened on September 6 after years of planning and construction, marking a major new step in Tainan's effort to address stray-animal concerns while challenging the traditional image of an animal shelter.

## NT$403 million project can house more than 440 stray animals

The Tainan City Government said about **NT$403 million** was invested in the project, which was developed with support and funding assistance from Taiwan's Ministry of Agriculture.

The official city government said the facility can accommodate **more than 440 stray dogs and cats**, while earlier project plans specified initial capacity of around 400 dogs and 40 cats.

Tainan Mayor **Huang Wei-che** said the project was developed partly to address the problem of roaming dogs in Xuejia and surrounding areas in northern Tainan.

But officials say the goal goes beyond simply creating more cages or expanding shelter capacity.

**The city wants to redefine what an animal shelter can be.**

## Not just a shelter: Four major facilities in one park

Unlike a conventional enclosed shelter, the Xuejia complex combines **four major components**:

- Animal shelter facilities
- An animal protection and education center
- A pet park
- Recreational and walking trails

The park-style layout also includes landscaping and an ecological retention pond, creating a public environment intended to bring people and animals closer together while encouraging more potential adopters to visit.

Tainan officials have described the project as an effort to overcome the stigma often associated with traditional animal shelters and replace it with a more open, education-focused and community-friendly model.

## Designed with animal welfare in mind

The facility's animal housing was designed to improve living conditions for the dogs and cats staying there.

According to the city government, the shelter buildings emphasize **natural light and ventilation**, while specialized drainage and cleaning systems are intended to improve hygiene and make maintenance easier. The overall layout also separates different functions and movement routes to reduce unnecessary disturbance and stress for the animals.

Officials said strict standards for hygiene, disease prevention and environmental maintenance will be implemented as the facility begins full operations.

The project also reflects an attempt to address one of the most difficult issues facing communities dealing with stray animals: how to provide shelter capacity without creating strong opposition from nearby residents.

By using open green spaces and a park-like design, Tainan hopes to reduce the so-called “not in my backyard” effect often associated with animal shelters.

## Adoption and sterilization at the heart of the plan

The city has made clear that the Xuejia park is not intended to become a permanent warehouse for stray animals.

Officials plan to promote **adoption matching and sterilization programs**, while working with schools, organizations and other partners to encourage responsible pet ownership and respect for animal life.

The mayor also expressed hope that elementary and junior high school students across Tainan will eventually visit the facility for outdoor educational activities.

The idea is to turn animal welfare into something young people can experience directly—not simply a subject discussed in classrooms.

That focus comes as Taiwan continues efforts to improve animal protection and address problems associated with stray and roaming animals.

In earlier statements, Tainan authorities said roaming dogs have also raised concerns involving public safety and wildlife protection, adding urgency to efforts to expand shelter capacity, strengthen sterilization and improve long-term animal management.

## From shelter to tourist and community destination?

The transformation of the site could eventually have a wider impact beyond animal protection.

From September through December, the city plans activities including pet training and grooming demonstrations, interactive games, DIY programs, markets and pet-themed events. The government also plans pet carnivals, animal-themed parties and other weekend activities designed to bring more people into the park.

Officials have also discussed linking the facility with local tourism and cultural events in the wider Xuejia area.

If successful, the project could turn an area once associated with a cemetery into a destination centered on **animal welfare, recreation, education and community interaction**.

## A dramatic transformation—and a test for Taiwan's animal welfare efforts

Construction began in December 2023 and the project took roughly two and a half years to complete, with the site finished before its official opening in September 2026.

Now comes the more difficult challenge: proving that the park-style model can make a real difference.

More shelter capacity alone will not solve the stray-animal problem. Long-term success will depend on adoption, sterilization, responsible ownership, disease control and continued cooperation between government agencies, communities and schools.

Still, Tainan's new Xuejia facility represents a striking shift in approach.

**A former cemetery has become a refuge for animals. A traditional shelter model has been reimagined as a public park. And now, Taiwan's first park-style animal protection center faces its biggest test yet: Can bringing people and animals closer together help solve the problem it was built to address?**

### WWC ONE MEDIA G.A