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Once Almost Extinct in Japan, This Dog Breed Thrives in Taiwan

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In this Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015 photo, Shiba Inu Maru relaxes at Ueno Park in Tokyo. This bundle of fun and fur is a 7-year-old Shiba Inu who has been top dog on Instagram for several years. Marutaro has 2.2 million followers on Instagram. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

Voice of America
Date: December 02, 2019
By:  Ralph Jennings

FILE – A Shiba Inu dog relaxes at Ueno Park in Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 23, 2015.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – A medium-sized hunting dog breed called the Shiba Inu once faced extinction in Japan because of war and disease.
 
Now the breed is a pet owner rage in Taiwan. The size and temperament of the fluffy orange-and-white dogs mesh with people’s apartment lifestyles in dense Taiwanese cities, the dog owners say. Their penchant for the dogs reflects a liking for Japanese culture and helps sustain the species.
 
Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture says it doesn't keep tabs on how many Shiba Inus live on the island, but one dog seller moves four puppies per month and a local club for people who own the breed has about 60 members, who average more than one dog each.

Anyone passing through a Taipei park in the early evening will see at least a couple of them being walked.    [FULL  STORY]

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