The China Post
Date: July 24, 2016
By: Christine Chou
TAIPEI, Taiwan — An animal welfare organization has warned stray dogs and cats may suffer a
Taiwan-based singer Kimberley Chen (陳芳語) poses for a photo shoot as part of a fundraising campaign for animal welfare. (Courtesy of Taiwan Life Caring and Animal Rescue Organization)
fate far worse than painless death, after a zero euthanasia policy takes effect next February — a policy it claims was rushed and poorly thought through.
Tiger Tung (董冠富), founder and chairman of the Taiwan Life Caring and Animal Rescue Organization (LCO, 台灣照顧生命協會), urged President Tsai Ing-wen to integrate resources to prevent less fortunate dogs and cats that are not accepted by public shelters from dying in miserable conditions — either in the street or in illegal private sanctuaries.
The government needs to loosen legal conditions for privately owned shelters, or else even remaining solutions will disappear, said Tung.
“When no-kill animal shelters are filled to capacity, animals are kept in severely crowded, often unbearable cages,” remarked Tung. “They die at faster rates due to starvation, poor living conditions or attacks from other dogs.”
The so-called zero euthanasia policy was passed by the Legislative Yuan at the beginning of last year, following the release of the documentary “Twelve Nights” (十二夜) — the film stirred outrage in society at the plight of public shelter animals. [FULL STORY]
