小狗也能享受VIP的待遇

Dogs enjoy leisure time at hotel in Taipei

现代台北街头曾充斥着流浪狗，它们在拥挤的人行道上嗅着路人或是翻找垃圾桶。但现在狗狗们可以住进为它们量身定做了VIP设施的旅馆中了。被称为“宠物梦幻乐园”的旅馆，场地宽敞，并附有游泳池、沙龙、训练室和娱乐室等设施。

Modern Taipei was once teeming with stray dogs that sniffed commuters on crowded sidewalks and rummaged through trash. But now the city has canines living in hotels with their own VIP suites.

A Taipei-area proprietor has opened a large-sized hotel with a pool, a salon, classes and recreation rooms. These luxuries, however, are not for human beings.

As pro-dog awareness has spread in Taipei and pet boarding services taken off, pet owners pressed for play time or space at home have begun to look toward the budding hotels.

在这里，宠物们可以在室内游泳池中游泳以减重，隔壁也有美容室帮它们打理毛发，敏感易焦虑的宠物还能免费拥有独处房间。在主人们外出时，与其让狗狗们在家里睡觉，不如来旅馆做些运动，这样能更好地控制它们的体重。另外，工作人员也会提醒主人们什么时候该去给宠物注射疫苗和除虫了。

The Pet's Dream Park lets dogs spend hours jumping in and paddling out of an indoor pool to lose weight. A beauty parlour awaits them in the next room.

Nervous, anxious pets get their own VIP rooms at no extra charge to keep them out of other dogs' way.

Tsai Shu-Ling, dog owner, said, "It is mostly because of the spaciousness and a rather clean environment. Accommodation is also OK, it's not like a cage, there is ample space. They will also inform us when it's time to give the dogs immunity injections or when to check them for parasites."

Dogs that spend their days exercising in the hotel, rather than sleeping at home when owners are away, are also likely to better control their weight.

Happy, for example, a slightly over-weight Labrador retriever, lost 6 kilograms in the last 12 months, through daily swimming sessions.

负责人表示开办此项业务的主要原因是为了缓解流浪狗问题。旅馆房间的价格是包饮食在内每天14美元，虽然有点贵但台湾的一般家庭也是能承担得起的。

The hotel owner says the major reason for starting the business is to ease the stray dog problem.

Kevin Lin, owner of Pet's Dream Park, said, "We regularly help stray animals. They need help from people. We also offer cats and dogs for adoption. We hope these animals can find better homes."

Official figures show there are about 180-thousand dogs living on the island of 23 million people. The hotel's room rate is 14 US dollars a day plus food, which is more expensive than home care but affordable to the average Taipei family.