A farmer in Taipei became the first offender in Taiwan fined for installing traps to ambush and harm animals. Officials urged people to abide by the animal protection regulations and not commit similar offenses.
Officials of the Taipei City Animal Protection Office (TCAPO) recently found a stray yellow dog caught by an animal trap in a mountainous area of the northern Beitou District following a report from members of local animal protection organisations.
They found the dog with a trap on one of its front legs on December 31, and also uncovered some other larger animal traps near the house of a farmer surnamed Liao.
Liao said that he set up animal traps in order to protect his farm and agricultural products from stray dogs and other animals.
He also emphasised that he had already put up warning signs so that people will not be harmed by the traps.
But he was given a fine of NT$15,000 (US$490) for installing animal traps in violation of the Animal Protection Act.
Liao became the first person in Taiwan fined for using animal traps after stricter animal protection rules were adopted.
The TCAPO staff dismantled and confiscated all the traps found in Liao's farm field and neighbourhood before taking the injured dog to hospital.
A veterinarian said he could quickly nurture the injured female dog back to health, but it will walk with a limp for the rest of its life because the harm to her front leg bones is irreversible.
Yen Yi-fong, director of the TCAPO, reminded all farmers and people of other professions not to use animal traps because it is cruel to animals. Violators will face fines between NT$15,000 to NT$75,00 in accordance with the updated rules of the Animal Protection Act.
Yen stressed that his office and staff will maintain vigilance against violations of the act in order to prevent cruelty against animals.
The TCAPO is also responsible for enforcing the rules stipulated in the Statute for Prevention and the Control of Infectious Animal Disease and other regulations concerning pet management and quarantine and inspection to ensure the health and safety of residents and animals within Taipei, Yen explained.
