To the Honorable Judge:
This letter is part of the supporting document along with petitions to the court for investigation and prosecution regarding the case of Taiwan dog pound cruelty.
The enclosed petitions are signed by compassionate citizens from all over the world, including citizens of Taiwan. They represent a continuing international campaign demanding that the Taiwan government conduct a total reformation in the management of the stray dog problem and, in particular, a nationwide investigation concerning the ongoing cruelty and mistreatment of dogs inside government-sponsored animal shelters.
Since Taiwan now has an animal protection law, we are now pursuing the
enforcement of that law. The law must be respected and exercised. We urge the Taiwan federal government, the Council of Agriculture, local governments, and district courts to exercise their leadership and bring those who violate the law to justice.
We are quite aware that the recent dog cannibalism and the hellish conditions that exist in most stray dog holding facilities are caused by inside corruption at a local government level. The money allocated to each dog pound that is designated to provide food and health care for the dogs has been stolen by local officials. They simply let the hungry dogs starve to death. In order to root out these problems once and for all, we urge you to conduct a thorough investigation. Those individuals who have committed such heartless crimes must be prosecuted …
According to a recent report, currently in Taiwan, humane euthanasia has not been properly [instituted]. As noted, animal shelters in Taiwan are really a death camp. The adoption rate is almost zero. Captured dogs are either destroyed by poisoning or by starvation. Many dogs are sold to restaurants and others end up in medical labs for animal experimentation. Such practices are common, especially in Taipei and Hulian counties and in Taichung-Holi.
We believe that government officials are aware of these ongoing illegal activities that have caused tremendous suffering to the captive animals, yet they simply allow these to continue. Here is another quote from Mr. Tze-Jen Pan to prove our statement: “I am a Taiwanese, but I am shamed at … our government’s conduct. Animals have their dignity to live. I do [think] the government should pay more attention [to] this issue and regulation [of] animal protection.”
The following is a list of illegal conduct and activities still continuing in various parts of the country:
1. In Taichung County, the local dog pound is still using wire to capture stray dogs. This method was banned years ago. In Ta-Li, Taichung Hsien, at least 35 dogs were cramped in one small cage without food and water.
2. In Tai-Pin Shien, the dog pound is embezzling the money that is supposed to [be used to] care for the dogs. Captured dogs are left outdoors in cages, which violates the animal protection law.
3. In Ho-Li dog pound, … its expense [report] is fraudulent. Impounded dogs are dying of thirst and starvation and disease because the money was spent elsewhere.
4. Many dog pounds are dark and without proper ventilation and cleaning. Dogs are cramped together, forced to live [in] their own feces and [among] dead corpses.
5. In Don-Shi County, impounded dogs are left to starve; the animal wardens are still using wire to capture … stray dogs, though this method was banned when the animal protection law was passed four years ago.
6. In Wu-Fun dog pound, the workers come to work at night so there is no way for the public to either monitor the conditions or to adopt the dogs.
We hope that your honor will realize how desperate this situation is that has caused … worldwide concern for Taiwan’s million stray dogs. We hope to see a sincere response to our petition from the Taiwan government, to [guide] its claims and promises into concrete actions.
Lastly, a quote from the U.S. petition: “How we treat the animals is a reflection of ourselves.”
Thank you for listening.
Respectfully yours,
Judith Vejvoda, Director
International Alliance for Taiwan Abandoned Dogs
P.O. Box 8357, Santa Fe, NM 87504 USA
David Frawley, U.S. Outreach
Mira Fong, Petition/ PETA activist
