Taiwan Issues Hefty Fine and Bans Pet Ownership After Abandonment of 16 Shiba Inus

A woman in Hsinchu County, Taiwan, faces significant penalties and a ban on pet ownership after abandoning multiple Shiba Inus along a road.

In a significant case of animal abandonment, a woman in Taiwan has been fined and banned from owning pets after she was found guilty of abandoning sixteen Shiba Inus. The incident, which occurred in Hsinchu County, has brought attention to animal welfare and responsible pet ownership in Taiwan.

According to the Hsinchu County Animal Protection and Quarantine Division, a woman identified as Ms. Tsai was observed driving and abandoning multiple Shiba Inus in the towns of Guansi and Xinpu. After receiving reports, authorities were able to rescue a total of sixteen dogs. Following an investigation that included reviewing surveillance footage, the police identified Ms. Tsai, who is in her fifties, as the individual responsible for the abandonment.

The Hsinchu County Animal Protection and Quarantine Division stated that Ms. Tsai’s actions constituted a violation of animal welfare laws, including abandonment, failure to sterilize pets, and failure to register pets. Consequently, the authorities imposed a fine of over NT$415,000 (approximately US$13,000) and placed her on a blacklist, preventing her from owning any dogs or cats in the future.

Following the rescue, the abandoned Shiba Inus received immediate care. Teachers and students from the pet healthcare department at Yuanpei University of Medical Technology offered their assistance, providing grooming services and interacting with the dogs to help them regain trust and a sense of security.

Currently, the rescued Shiba Inus are being housed and have undergone health checks. The authorities plan to organize adoption events to find them new homes.