SUMMARY

All the areas we have covered show serious flaws in the current dog pounds and their management. All are remediable with very little effort. Never has there been such a case of "where there's a will, there's a way."

Countless organizations are ready with offers to help in all manner of ways. The Humane Society of the United States' training course, already attended by representatives of the Council of Agriculture and certain veterinarians, is extremely good, and we urge its continued and expanded use. Also, the Life Conservation Association can provide professional staff who know how to handle dogs and can visit sites, for example. The real key, however, is in directives being given by those in authority: directives to train, clean, require the adoption of effective standards of care, and so on. There is no doubt that Taiwan can have world-class facilities, given that the government has committed to providing assistance to localities, but, as in most things, commitment is everything. Wanting to make the dog pounds places to be proud of will make everything else fall into place.

It will help enormously if the often pathetic little collections of tin and wire which now pass for dog pounds in many jurisdictions are replaced by simple weatherproof buildings, the sooner the better. Stray dogs do not need anything elaborate, but, considering how tragic their lot is, at least we can provide them with protection from the wind, rain, and winter cold; shade from the burning summer sun; and a comfortable, clean place to rest their often old, frail, and protruding bones or to give birth to their pups. In some places, leaky tin roofs and huge cracks in the cement that hold bacteria and rainwater, as seen in Sanchung, need to be fixed without delay. In others, like Shen Ken, where we are assured the "old pound" will not be used again (it is a room flooded to about 10 inches in mud and feces), the permits necessary to complete construction of the now-abandoned "new pound" must be re-activated. Steps to winter-weatherproof pens and cages at all pounds need to be taken now.

While we wait for new construction, it is worth remembering that many vitally needed changes require no expenditure at all and that nothing stands in the way of making them now. For example, it costs nothing to start directing hoses at the floor instead of at the dogs (so they will not have to spend winter nights shivering, cold, and wet) or to use a gentle hand rather than a cruel wire noose and a swift kick. Training pound workers and letting them know that they are not permitted to abuse the animals does not cost a penny, and training is free. Abusive practices take a toll and bring criticism, of course, but can be changed with real and genuine concern from the top, as well as the provision of proper training and support to increase pound workers' skills, knowledge, and competency.

We are grateful to the Premier and to the central government for a commitment to change. It is imperative that this push continue at the quickest possible pace.

Thank you.