Drink coffee and make love at "Don't Cry, Stray" — 3% of sales go to helping stray animals

▲ Entrance of Don't Cry, Stray (Photo / Photographed by Mysterious Hero, a Single Cat)

Text and photos byMysterious Hero, a Single Cat

TheDon't Cry, Stray Animal Shelter Caféis a pet-friendly restaurant dedicated to stray animals. It opened in August next to Taipei Main Station’s Q Square and has helped many cats and dogs find their forever homes. "Don't Cry, Stray" was formerly known as "Don't Cry, A He."

The café itself is a three-story old house. The original elderly owner was also very fond of animals and used to take in strays from around her home. However, as she grew older and needed to move in with her son, the space was rented out to Huang Fangying, the person behind Don't Cry, Stray, along with her daughter and son-in-law—giving birth to this heartfelt café.

▲ Retro furniture and paintings give off the feel of faded antique charm. (Photo / Photographed by Mysterious Hero, a Single Cat)

Right at the entrance, you’ll see an old-fashioned window frame hung from the ceiling as decoration—a common feature in vintage buildings—but here, it’s paired with a crystal chandelier for an extra special touch. Spotlights are placed in the corners and on dining tables, and the space is furnished with retro-style sofas. On the first floor, there are stray dogs up for adoption; on the second floor, there are stray cats. Even with a door separating the two floors, you can still hear the meows. Each animal is clean and adorable.

▲ The door handle is shaped like a hand. (Photo / Photographed by Mysterious Hero, a Single Cat)

For food, items like the hot latte are served at just the right temperature—around 70°C—which makes it smooth and easy to drink, with a nutty aroma and a hint of chocolate that stays delicious till the last sip. The iced latte also gets the coffee strength just right, with neither the ice nor milk diluting the flavor.

▲ The hot latte with a nutty fragrance. (Photo / Photographed by Mysterious Hero, a Single Cat)

For main courses, there’s the"Banban Loves Curry Rice"which comes with scrambled eggs, a side salad, and beef curry. The curry isn’t spicy, so those who can’t handle heat can enjoy it with ease. The "Fried Pork Cutlet Rice" has similar sides but features a fried pork cutlet as the main dish. The pork is surprisingly delicious—with juicy, tender meat that’s not dry—and it’s crispy on the outside without being greasy. It’s pre-sliced before serving.They also offer vegetable jelly that’s safe for dogs to eat.。

Online, you can find a stray animal shelter platform, and Don't Cry, Stray is one of the participating stores. The platform lists many shops willing to join the foster care program.3% of purchases made at the store are donated to stray animals,and Don't Cry, Stray hopes that through such adoption efforts, stray animals can avoid ending up in shelters. By uniting community support, they aim to provide a higher-quality fostering environment.

Don't Cry, Stray Animal Shelter Café
Address: No. 7, Lane 3, Alley 24, Huayin Street, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02 2523 0533
Visit date: 2015.09