Note:
I have found it very difficult
to obtain accurate up to date information despite much correspondence and
several recent visits to Taiwan and USA. I have no bias in favour of any
of the organisations - I am just an individual wishing to see the situation
progress faster. I would
greatly appreciate feed back in
the form of corrections, further information, opinions or ideas. Anything
that will help the animals!
Background:
Investigations by the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA)
from 1994 to 1996 revealed to the world that Taiwan had a serious stray
dog control problem. (Note: this report confines itself to the problem
of dogs but there is also a big problem with cats, orang-utans and many
other
species).
Nearly 3 million dogs live in Taiwan, half of them homeless. 270,000 have
been caught and destroyed in the last eight years, 70,000 in 1996. The
Government (Council of Agriculture) issued an order in May 1997 for 1.3
million dogs to be destroyed by the end of 1998.
There are approximately 70 Government run dog pounds in Taiwan. Death is
induced by electrocution, gassing, drowning or starvation. These are all
methods that can be carried out en masse without the workers having to
personally harm an individual animal.
There are also a number of private no-kill dog shelters but these are in
general grossly overcrowded without any policy of either restriction of
numbers or of neutering.
A group of students at the Taipei American School runs the Taipei Abandoned
Animal Rescue Foundation (T-AARF). This group rescues dogs off the street,
rehabilitates, neuters and rehomes them. Because of the difficulty in finding
local homes, it has to resort to exporting most of the animals to USA.
The business of importing, breeding and selling of dogs is currently unregulated.
There has in recent years been a surge in the popularity of keeping dogs.
There has been no government or private organisation representing the interests
of dogs and until very recently there has been no attempt at education
in the responsibilities of keeping dogs.
As a generalisation, Chinese culture does not feel concern for animal welfare.
There is little deliberate cruelty but the combination of this indifference
to the suffering of animals with a taboo on the neutering and personal
killing of animals results in much suffering by default.
Recent Developments:
The Taipei based Life Conservationist Association (LCA) - a WSPA member
organisation - has been producing much excellent educational material;
has been helping to improve local dog pounds; and has been working to pass
an Animal Protection Act through the Legislative Yuan.
A Humane Education Conference and a Euthanasia Seminar were held in Taipei
in August 1997 and were attended and supported by Government officials,
WSPA, LCA, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), the Massachusetts
SPCA (MSPCA), the American SPCA (ASPCA) and the British Royal Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).
ASPCA organised a training course in August for 350 teachers to introduce
ideas of companion animal care to Taiwanese schools. A follow up course
is expected to take place in 1998. MSPCA provided funding to cover the
costs of a vet and an animal handler to take part in the humane euthanasia
seminar and subsequent work at animal shelters. RSPCA provided one of their
vets to take part in the humane euthanasia seminar and practical demonstrations
at local centres. RSPCA is also planning to implement an animal welfare
volunteers training programme during 1988. Humane Society International
(HSI) is also watching the situation. WSPA and IFAW are continuing to make
regular monitoring visits to Taiwan. IFAW held meetings
in early December with government
officials and local groups and is encouraging and will help fund a model
dog shelter when the most appropriate site is found.
All these organisations are currently deliberating how best now to help
move the situation forward.
The Way Forward:
A fact that has to be recognised is that many Taiwanese resent the bad
publicity engendered for their country by the world-wide attention on the
problem. The current piecemeal approach needs to be co-ordinated from within
the country. LCA cannot fill this role as it is an educational group covering
all animal issues.
It would seem that the best way forward is for a group of local Taiwanese
to develop a model dog shelter which would not only have a service commitment
but would also educate both the public and the government in the latest
techniques of humane dog control. This seems to be generally agreed and
much work is now being done behind the scenes to get this project offthe
ground. Once it is established, overseas organisations and foreign individuals
can contribute money and expertise to ensure its success.
Once this "SPCA" is established and once the Animal Protection Act is in
force, the situation should improve. Unfortunately in the meantime there
are a lot of suffering animals out there.
What You Can Do:
1. If you are a member of any of
the above organisations, write to them to urge them to continue with their
efforts - ear-marked donations would help.
2. Help to ensure the continuity
of T-AARF. This organisation needs to have permanent premises and staff
and would use donations to become more cost-effective by developing a local
adoption service.
3. Keep informed by joining the
e-mailing list ACT! (follow the link from the T-AARF website).
Internet Addresses:ºô§}¦a§}
IFAW: http://www.ifaw.org/
e-mail: 0005086269@mcimail.com
WSPA: http://www.way.net/wspa/taiwan.html
e-mail: joyleney@wspa.org.uk
LCA:
e-mail: lcatwn@ms15.hinet.net
T-AARF: http://www.toapayoh.com/taarf/
e-mail: sharptpe@toapayoh.com
ASPCA: http://www.aspca.org/
MSPCA: http://www.mspca.org/
RSPCA: http://www.rspca.org.uk/
HSI: http://www.hsus.org/international/index.html
EarthCare: http://www.earth.org.hk/newslettoct97.html
e-mail: jwed@hkstar.com
Update (December 1998): 1998
has proved a positive year. There is much debate as to whether the
changes are real or cosmetic but certainly the Taiwan authorities have
now accepted that there is a serious problem and they are taking steps
to address it. We can but hope.