Dear Consulates of Taiwan:

May 19, 2005, Taiwan: an innocent dog was hanged to death in Kee-Lung by a dogcatcher, while being taken from his owner’s house to the animal shelter. The dogcatcher dragged the dog with excessive force and hung him by the neck behind the truck. This public employee of Kee-Lung was aware of the suffocation he was causing the animal, but prolonged the hanging and ignored the pleas of the onlookers to stop. After several minutes the animal died of suffocation. This brutal and violent act was captured on tape and broadcast on national TV in Taiwan. It sent shock wave through animal protection communities both in and outside of Taiwan.
Worst of all, the public employee who MURDERED the animal got off with only warnings without further penalty. He remains an employee of Kee-Lung today. According to Taiwan’s Animal Protection Law, Chapter VI. Penal Provisions, Article 30, #5, `…persons who have killed animals in a public place or location that people may enter shall be fined from NT $10,000 up to NT $50,000’. Even though the nature of the crime calls for a harsher punishment, the mayor of Kee-Lung has publicly refused to enforce the law, circumventing the law in a clear case of animal cruelty.
Since the passage of animal protection law in 1998, international animal protection groups have continued to monitor animal welfare in Taiwan. Various sources in Taiwan have confirmed that animal cruelty is a common practice among dogcatchers, and is OPENLY tolerated by the authorities. Abuse and inhumane treatment of animals in public shelters remain a reality, and animal abuse cases are rarely prosecuted. Taiwan has the worst record in animal protection among developed countries worldwide. This is further exemplified by the Kee-Lung incident when public authorities REFUSED to enforce the animal protection law, despite the demand of Taiwanese people.
In solidarity with animal lovers and activists in Taiwan, the undersigned urge the Taiwanese government to enforce the animal protection law by investigating and prosecuting all parties involved. Please let us know what action you will take to resolve this issue to prevent potential protests at all Taipei Economic and Culture Center in the United States. Once again, we are calling on the city of Kee-Lung to enforce the law by prosecuting those who commit crimes against animals.

Sincerely,
(Add your name, the name of your Organization, and the location here and return to AHAN at julia@ahan.org)