【Article by Chinese Language Center】

As part of National Chengchi University’s ongoing commitment to sustainable development and University Social Responsibility (USR), the NCCU Huayu BEST Program Office partnered with the local dog rescue organization, Mary’s Doggies, to organize a community engagement activity at the Wanxing Dog Area in Wenshan District on July 5. Students from Virginia Military Institute (VMI), the University of Virginia (UVA), and Trier University participated in the event. Taking on volunteer roles for the day, the students joined the Mary’s Doggies team for a socialization and training session with more than 30 rescued dogs at the park.

Mary's Doggies, founded by Mrs. Mary Choi, is a Taiwan-based rescue organization that currently cares for more than 100 dogs and conducts regular socialization sessions at Wanshing Dog Park and Taoyuan International Airport. The organization maintains an international adoption network, with particularly strong connections in the United States, where Mrs. Choi lived for many years.

Mrs. Choi began the session by walking students through her organization's approach to rescue: dogs first receive medical care and time to adjust before moving into socialization and behavioral training. She explained that watching how a dog reacts to unfamiliar people, animals, and environments gives her team essential insight into its temperament, helping them determine what kind of home would suit it best. Volunteer participation plays a meaningful role in this process, since it allows staff to observe dogs interacting with people they have never met.

Following the talk, Mrs. Choi and the rescue staff introduced students to the practical side of working with the dogs and their socialization process. Before the walk, the group learned basic leash-handling techniques, how to guide the dogs safely, and what to watch for when observing their behavior. Several students had attended previous Mary’s Doggies volunteer events. They confidently demonstrated the techniques and helped guide those participating for the first time. Mrs. Choi also noted that the students were attentive and followed instructions carefully throughout the session. 

After the training, students put what they had learned into practice by taking the rescue dogs for walks around the park. Under the guidance of the rescue staff, they practiced proper leash handling and observed how the dogs responded to their surroundings. 

After the walk, students continued asking Mrs. Choi questions about dog behavior and training methods. Many of them have pets back home and were eager to share their own experiences. Students shared stories about their pets and showed photos to one another. Mrs. Choi answered their questions and shared examples from her experience with rescue dogs. The conversation allowed students to compare their experiences and learn more about different approaches to caring for and training dogs. 

This volunteer activity reflects the Huayu BEST Program's ongoing commitment to combining Mandarin education with meaningful community engagement, building on initiatives such as its "Big Hands Holding Small Hands" activities with local elementary schools. By working with Mary's Doggies, international students practiced their language skills in a genuine setting while directly supporting the socialization of dogs awaiting adoption. The experience gave them a closer look at animal welfare as a local issue and a stronger sense of connection to the Taiwanese community during their studies. Through their participation, the student volunteers contributed to the dogs’ ongoing socialization, bringing them another step closer to future adoption. As part of NCCU’s broader commitment to USR, the Huayu BEST Program continues to create opportunities for students to connect language learning with meaningful participation in the local community.

More photos from our events are available on the NCCU Chinese Language Center’s Instagram :  https://goo.su/snHEzH         (@clcnccu).