PROBLEM 2: Mishandling of Dogs, Bitten Workers

The Standard:
Properly trained pound workers know how to make the animals feel comfortable and thus less inclined to bite due to fear from improper handling. They use the leash as the standard tool of their trade and the "control pole" only in emergencies.

Exhibit 4 Crude metal implements used to snare and move dogs.

As part of their job, they are required to touch and hold and humanely move dogs in any condition without causing the animals undue distress or evoking behavioral problems, such as biting. This creates a safe environment for animals, visitors, and workers.

The Reality:
At every dog pound we visited, the routine method of catching dogs was to slam a net over them or to use primitive homemade wire nooses that can eat into the dogs' necks. Often, the capture was time-consuming and workers spent much fruitless effort tossing wire snares at the dogs' heads, batting at them without result. When caught, dogs are swung off the ground by their necks or lifted by their necks out of cage tops and slammed down onto the metal slats of the trucks. They are then further mishandled and shoved into a cage, again with a wire noose or with a long-handled set of metal tongs (EXHIBIT 4). Therefore, it is no surprise that the dogs are defensive and feel their only recourse is to attack because they are being attacked. Here are some examples:

At Keelung, a worker reached for a heavy set of gloves and a metal noose when asked to move a large dog. We moved the dog by opening the cage door, placing a leash over his head, and allowing him to walk out of the cage. The worker spoke of having received many bites.

At Yin Ko, a pound worker showed a bite wound he had just received to his thigh after being attacked by a medium-sized

Exhibit 5 Badly bitten dog suffering from infected injuries, left in cage by scared workers. (Yin Ko)

dog. When we looked into the cage it was clear that this dog was scared stiff and suffering from a serious injury (EXHIBIT 5). Anyone handling her improperly would be bitten by her in self-defense. Using only a nylon leash, we drew her gently from the cage, calmed her down, petted her, lifted her onto a table and examined her. One of her legs was badly infected and swollen to twice its normal size. We were able to hold her without any resistance while the veterinarian we had called to the scene gave her an injection.

Similarly, at Shi Tze, a Rottweiler was declared "dangerous," although we were able to feed him, easily place a nylon leash on him, and gently lead him about.

Because dog pound staff are untrained in animal handling techniques, they create aggression in otherwise mild-mannered or even timid dogs. All pounds appear to use barbaric instruments like the wire nooses. In Yin Ko, we had to use pliers to remove a noose embedded into one dog's neck. Having already been bitten once by the dog, workers were too afraid to remove the noose themselves. In San Hsia, the pound displayed a wide selection of carefully fashioned metal "tools," including a long twisted metal bar used to try to remove metal nooses, as well as various kinds of tongs to clamp about dogs' necks and drag the animals around. In no pound did we see a leash used. In a few pounds, we found broken control sticks that could easily have been repaired (EXHIBIT 6).

Exhibit 6 Broken animal control poles, nets, and wire nooses discarded at Shi Tze.

Our suspicion is that these had been broken by workers unfamiliar with their correct use and then discarded in frustration.

The Solution:
A. Again, workers must be trained. Related governmental agencies must cooperate with animal protection groups to offer free training. An investment in such training would transform the treatment, image, and professionalism of the pounds.

B. All barbaric and unsuitable equipment (including wire nooses and tongs) used for animal handling must be removed and replaced with appropriate leashes and operational control poles.