Could the increase of stray dogs in Taiwan directly correlate with the fur baby boom?
With the number of pets in Taiwan soaring past 3 million domesticated dogs for a population of roughly 23 million people, it would be an understatement to say that Taiwan is pet friendly.
Pets, more commonly referred to as fur babies (毛孩子, máoháizi, or 毛小孩) by doting pet parents, rule the streets. Their wagons and strollers dominate what little sidewalks there are in Taiwan, and their couture ballerina tutus and booties rival even the highest forms of fashion at Taipei Fashion Week.
A permanent sight at any shopping mall – Gloria Outlets and Taipei 101 are the most popular – it is clear that we have entered the Taiwan fur baby boom. Indeed, it was even estimated that by 2020 there would be more pets than human children in Taiwan under the age of 15.
Whether that expectation has been fulfilled or not I’ll touch on later, however for now it’s clear that pets in Taiwan are here to stay. Yet it’s not all fuzzy hugs and nose boops, because more pets means an increasing number of stray animals. This is particularly true for stray dogs in Taiwan, even with this fur baby boom.
Unfortunately, this is nothing new. Taiwan has long had a problem with stray dogs (commonly referred to as 流浪狗, liúlàng gǒu, or 流浪犬 liúlàng quǎn). Yet the situation is becoming increasingly troublesome and dangerous, with reports indicating that there may be half a million stray cats and dogs in Taiwan.
But is it really possible that this fur baby boom could be contributing to the stray dog problem in Taiwan?
Taiwanese Fur Babies: What is a Fur Baby & Why The Obsession?
As opposed to a guard dog, or really any dog, a fur baby is a pet that is showered in love and attention. Literally; there have been cases of pet parents throwing ‘fur baby showers’ for their dog.
While there may be no visible difference between a fur baby and a normal pet – save for the addition of clothes – the stark difference is the way owners treat them. Taiwan fur babies are treated like children; parents will take them everywhere to every extracurricular activity, from the mall to the supermarket, to breakfast/lunch/dinner, and, occasionally, to work.
Pet parents in Taiwan will also show off their fur babies with (always aesthetic) outfits. It’s also common to see Taiwan fur babies riding in style, in buggies for two (or three) to strollers, backpacks, handbags, … it’s clear that pet parents are scared of the floor. Even when out on walks – it’s literally in the name! – pets in Taiwan remain in their strollers.
So why this obsession with pets? And what’s with treating them like kids? For this, we need to delve into the current economic climate in Taiwan.
Let’s be clear, while the official cost of living in Taiwan is low, actually living comfortably in Taiwan is quite expensive. The average salary is the equivalent of USD $4 an hour, with the average one bedroom apartment being anywhere between USD $500 to $1,500 a month. If you’re in Taipei, the capital city, it could be even higher.
Now let’s factor in inflation. Where that bowl of noodles used to cost you a couple bucks, now it’s $7. So that’s two hours of work. You get the picture.
While Taiwan does have a prosperous middle class, and there are jobs that pay much more than the minimum wage, actually living in Taiwan in 2023 as a non-English speaker (because fluent English speakers have an advantage in careers) is not that easy. Now imagine having a child on top of that, and it’s clear why Taiwan has one of the lowest total fertility rates in the world.
That’s not to say that pet parents don’t spend extreme amounts on their fur babies, many do. But it’s still, normally, tiny in comparison to what an actual human would cost.
How Many Stray Dogs Are There in Taiwan?
While it’s hard to get an accurate picture of the total number of stray dogs in Taiwan, in 2020 there was a recorded 180,000 stray dogs in Taiwan. That’s a drastic increase on the 20,000 stray dogs that were recorded just two years prior.
Pingtung is most crowded city with stray dogs in Taiwan, with Tainan coming in second with 19,000 stray dogs. Many of them roam in packs, and there are frequent reports of these Taiwanese street dogs chasing and, in some cases, injuring humans.
Is There a Link Between The Taiwan Fur Baby Boom & The Rise of Stray Dogs?
Logically, there shouldn’t be a link between the recent increase in the population of stray dogs in Taiwan and the fur baby boom. That’s because pet parents, or those who identify their pets as their “fur baby”, are meant to care deeply for their dog, and thus would be unlikely to release them for whatever reason.
Even the possibility of their pet being lost would be reduced since most pet parents chip (and neuter) their furry friends.
That being said, with the fur baby boom being such a profitable industry, it’s undeniable that this increasing desire to have pets in Taiwan could be contributing to a greater number of illegal puppy breeding facilities to cash in on the trend.
Though there are less of them, it is still not uncommon to see pets in Taiwan (cats, dogs, rabbits, you name it) sold in night markets and in run-down pet shops. There’s even a street in Taipei that’s renowned for this sort of thing.
Although I unsurprisingly couldn’t find the figures, I expect that these kinds of places would release dogs that don’t sell or have reached the end of their fertility, thus making a direct link between the fur baby boom and stray dog problem in Taiwan.
Surprisingly though, the most popular – and therefore attractive – breed of dog for pet owners in Taiwan does not directly correlate to the increase in stray dogs in Taiwan. This is according to a survey conducted by Rock-Tail, who found that the most popular dog breed of respondents’ pets were mixed-breed dogs.
According to Rock-tail, this is a result of more pet owners choosing to adopt dogs. Since stray dogs tend to be mixed-breeds, this is causing a higher number of pet owners to have mixed dogs. This trend is due to the heavy promotion of adoption over purchasing dogs in recent years.
Yet, even with these results of government investment coming to fruition, it is clear that the stray dog population is still on the rise. People may be choosing to adopt more dogs, but this survey doesn’t show the percentage of people who will release said dog if he/she gets too big, violent, or if the pet owner falls sick or moves into smaller accommodation. In short, there’s still no penalty to deter adoptive pet parents from rereleasing their pets.
Therefore, even though logically it doesn’t seem like the fur baby boom should be related to the increase in stray dogs in Taiwan, it actually is. Just like the teacup pig phenomenon of the early 2010s, pet owners still have a tendency to abandon their animals once they get too big, old, or sick.
We need only to look at the most common breeds of stray dogs in Taiwan to know that this still rings true: Golden Retriever, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, and Samoyed…all big dogs.
The Growing Concern About the Number of Taiwan Stray Dogs
For tourists visiting the sweet potato island, Taiwan’s stray dogs and cats generally pose little danger. Cats in particular, as you can see from the short video below of a pair of kittens with their mom that I met at Qingjing Farm in Nantou in May 2023.
Unfortunately, the cute and relatively calmness of the cats cannot be said the same for some stray dogs in Taiwan. While there can be friendlier dogs, stray dogs that run in packs are generally seen as a dangerous nuisance to humans, as well as other pets. This is especially true in Tainan, which is home to Taiwan’s second largest population of stray dogs.
Side note: I witnessed a bit of this firsthand when visiting Tainan’s Anping district – the future Miami of Asia – and saw a pack of dogs harass and terrorize a small dog and its owner.
What’s more, it only takes one rabid badger to turn Ms. Doggie into a rampaging bloodthirsty hound. Thankfully, Taiwan is one of only a handful of countries around the world where rabies is practically non-existent. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Taiwan has not experienced a dog-to-dog rabies outbreak since 1961.
Such effective prevention can mostly be attributed to the MOHW and COA through their continued promotion of vaccinations for pets. But what about dogs that aren’t domesticated?
While it’s true that there are currently no cases of rabies in Taiwan, all it takes is one rabid badger (or the three Chinese ferret-badgers that tested positive for rabies in 2013) to cause a potentially fatal outbreak.
With the numbers of Taiwan stray dogs increasing exponentially year on year, it wouldn’t be outlandish to suggest that these dogs might come into contact with said rabid badger. Then we’re in trouble.
Solutions to the Stray Dog Problem in Taiwan
So what measures are being taken to control the number of stray dogs in Taiwan? While animal advocates would argue not enough, there are quite a few programs in place that are doing some good.
Current Programs to Combat the Stray Dog Problem
Educational programs for schools
Education is the key to success, and Taiwan is taking that seriously. There are already a number of animal educational programs in place for elementary, middle, and high schools across the country.
The ‘National and Private Senior High School Campus Care Animal Life Education Program’ is one such program that promotes adoption of animals from an early age. Schools that partake in this program adopt stray dogs, giving students the opportunity to learn the benefits of adoption and how to properly care for a dog.
The Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return Method (TNVR)
The TNVR is a method that is widely used throughout Taiwan to combat the growing number of Taiwanese street dogs. Although fairly successful, some argue that it is simultaneously a waste of public funds, as dogs that are sterilized are merely returned to the same area that they were initially found, thus the number of dogs on the streets remaining the same.
What’s more, some dogs are even picked up again, only to be released.
Possible Programs to Combat the Stray Dog Problem
1. Amend the Land Laws
Due to the rigidity of Taiwan’s land laws, it is incredibly difficult for animal rights groups to legally establish animal shelters in Taiwan as land is usually permitted for agricultural and residential purposes. There is oftentimes insufficient space to set up shelters anyway. As a result, there are more stray dogs in Taiwan on the streets than in places of care.
As it currently stands, 95% of all stray animals in Taiwan are unable to be accommodated in shelters. If these laws were to change, then it is likely that more shelters would be established, thus controlling the stray dog problem in Taiwan.
2. Introduce a Penalty for Abandoning Dogs
Although this one might be tricky to follow-through, Taiwan should introduce a penalty for owners that abandon their dogs. Even a strict on the spot fine may just be enough to get pet owners to think before releasing their dogs. There are always, and hopefully will be more, shelters that can take in their animals first.
3. Use New Tech to Combat Problem
With the advent of AI in our lives, we should use these new technologies and concepts to fight the stray dog problem in Taiwan. The Tainan Government is already doing just that, although it’s a little unusual.
According to Taiwan News, the Tainan Government is using unmanned drones to spot stray dogs. The drones then send the information to trappers to follow the TNVR procedure.
How you can help Taiwanese street dogs
Although foreigners living temporarily in Taiwan should not adopt a dog, there are still a number of ways you can help alleviate the stray dog problem in Taiwan. From donations to volunteering, to simply raising awareness, there’s plenty you can do to improve the lives of Taiwanese street dogs.
Below are a few dog foster and adoption resources in Taiwan.
Foster & Adoption Resources in Taiwan
1. PACK
The Frenchies (PACK is organized and maintained by the French Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan, also know as 法國工商會) know what’s up with the stray dog problem in Taiwan and are in full action mode to sort it out, but they still need your help.
2. HOTAC
HOTAC (also known as Heart of Taiwan Animal Care or 台灣之心愛護動物協會) advocate for the rescue of stray animals and the education training of students for properly looking after pets. Their website is in Chinese though, so remember to whip that Google Translate or ChatGPT out when you get there.
3. Animals Taiwan
Animals Taiwan has a Linkou (New Taipei City) center that is open to volunteers wanting to walk, wash, and play with stray dogs and cats. There are also stray dogs waiting to be adopted, if you or someone you know is looking for a furry friend.
