Fw: Taipei Times on international dog rescue

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Source: Taipei Times 5/05/02

 

Editorial: Dog saga has deeper lessons

 

A twist of fate has made " Hokget " (:V & N) one of the most

internationally-renowned dogs, next to Lassy. People across the globe smiled

and sighed in relief over a touching end to the dog's lonely ordeal aboard a

drifting hulk for 24 days, but this story has more to it than just cuteness.

 

Many were quick to point out the American values highlighted by this

incident -- the respect and value attached to all lives, animals and humans

alike. After all, this happy ending came after multiple rescue attempts, air

drops of pizzas, granola bars, and oranges to the pooch, as well as the

expenditure of a lot of money. Animal lovers in the US demonstrated that

they pay a lot more than lip service to their beliefs.

 

Of course, critics were quick to point out that it seems ironic for the

Americans to spend so much money on one single dog, when there are so many

more needy and homeless dogs in the US. But, one can only do what is

reasonably within one's power. The peace of mind one feels upon doing that

is what makes everything worthwhile.

 

The real significance in the entire Hokget saga is not just in the fact that

one dog's life was saved, but the ease in conscience felt by the public. The

argument that all the money and efforts put into the rescue would have been

better spent on needy humans isn't convincing either. The argument presumes

that human lives have more value, when animals are often much more likeable

than some human beings.

 

Reportedly, Hokget had refused to let her rescuers get close to her, because

she was trying to defend the fuel tanker on which she had grown up. That

kind of loyalty and courage is a lot more than one can say for some people

in this country.

 

In comparison to the Americans, the people of Taiwan really should bow in

shame about the way dogs are treated here. The number of stray dogs has

reached alarming proportions in Taiwan. Reportedly, many are discarded

because either they are too sick or that they are born as a result of

pregnancies unwanted by their owners.

 

These problems could easily be resolved by regular inoculation shots and

neutering of dogs. Worse yet, some people in Taiwan still engage in the

practice of feng sheng ()q%M) -- the setting free of animals into the wild.

 

for religious reasons. While they may think they are doing a good deed, in

fact they are guaranteeing these animals a miserable life and usually an

early and often very unpleasant death. Taiwan has few natural habitats in

which these animals can survive on their own, not to mention the fact that

tamed pets often have extreme problems surviving in the natural environment.

 

Also the people of Taiwan do not have a culture of adopting stray dogs, so

most of the stray dogs rounded up by the relevant government agency are

killed, often in a very gruesome manner.Of course, in comparison with the

dogs on the other side of the Taiwan Strait, dogs here are virtually in

paradise.

 

The practice of dog-eating is a lot more prevalent in China, where the

police are reportedly in the process of engaging in yet another major

crackdown on unlicensed dogs.

 

Among the first to be killed are the 7,100 dogs already rounded up by the

Shanghai Police. Does this mean the people in Taiwan have any reasons to

feel comfortable? Of course not. China is notorious for its barbarism to

both animals and humans. Taiwan must do a lot better than that.