Animal Protection Groups Urge Continued High-Intensity Sterilization; Ministry Says It Effectively Controls Stray Dogs

(Central News Agency, Reporter Chen Junhua, Taipei, 5th) Animal protection groups stated today that high-intensity sterilization can reduce the number of stray dogs, decrease breeding, and lessen human-dog conflicts. The Ministry of Agriculture said that high-intensity sterilization is an effective way to control stray dogs and is willing to cooperate with local governments and NGOs. In the future, after the Animal Protection Act is amended, the exemption from sterilization will be changed from a 'declaration system' to a 'permit system.'

DPP legislators Wu Szu-yao, Wu Pei-yi, and Kuo Yu-ching, KMT legislator Hung Meng-kai, New Power Party Hsinchu City Councilor Liao Tzu-chi, along with civil groups such as the Taiwan Huai Sheng Believe in Animals Association and the Life Conservationist Association, held a press conference at the Legislative Yuan in the morning.

Kuo Hsuan, CEO of the Believe in Animals Association, pointed out that what they are doing in northern Taiwan is not just TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) but high-intensity sterilization. This involves a地毯式 (carpet-style) search to find and sterilize all female dogs, whether owned or unowned, aiming for a female dog sterilization rate of over 80%. Since the program began, the number of puppies entering shelters has significantly decreased, and breeding has been controlled.

Kuo said that fewer dogs, less breeding, and fewer human-dog conflicts are powerful evidence in northern Taiwan, proving the method is effective. The most crucial key is dealing with 'insufficiently managed domestic dogs,' such as dogs that have owners but are kept outdoors. If this is not addressed, the problem cannot be properly solved. Only through a地毯式 search and providing free sterilization services can this gap be filled.

Wu Szu-yao stated that according to the Ministry of Agriculture's biennial national survey, the latest results show a decrease of 11.34% (18,113 dogs) in the stray dog population. With concrete evidence combined with international scientific methods, this is the correct policy. It should be firmly implemented without backtracking, and increasing the intensity of sterilization is absolutely a crucial link between source management and end-stage sheltering.

Kuo Yu-ching said that to reduce the number of stray dogs in the most effective way while also considering animal welfare, the most important thing is source management. Strengthening the intensity of sterilization can reduce subsequent shelter and medical costs. After the implementation of high-intensity sterilization in northern Taiwan, the rate of puppies entering shelters dropped by over 88%, and the number of citizen reports of stray dogs in Taipei City decreased by 92%.

Wu Pei-yi stated that after more than a decade of high-intensity sterilization, the results are significant based on the numbers, with a clear decrease in the rate of puppies entering shelters. If the policy goal is to reduce stray dogs, high-intensity sterilization is definitely a method worth continuing to adopt.

Hung Meng-kai said that stray dogs not only breed outdoors but some also have owners, so owner responsibility is very important. How to strengthen education and promotion in the future depends on the joint efforts of the central and local governments.

Chen Chung-hsing, Deputy Director-General of the Animal Protection Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, who attended the press conference, stated that the Ministry adopts a legalized and scientific approach to dog population management. Households are a very important source of stray dogs. 'High-intensity sterilization is an effective method for controlling stray dogs,' but it must be coordinated with a plan.

Chen said that source management is very important. The current exemption from sterilization under the Animal Protection Act is a 'declaration system,' where owners only need to declare to the local government. After the future amendment of the Animal Protection Act, it will be changed to a 'permit system,' where the local government will approve or deny the request. In the future, starting from a small scale and implementing systematically, the number of stray dogs can be significantly reduced. The Ministry of Agriculture is willing to cooperate with local governments and NGOs to implement high-intensity sterilization. (Editor: Chang Chun-mao) 1150605