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Activists urge ban on buying, selling of
animal traps
DANGEROUS:A Council of Agriculture official said they had
to consult with the Ministry of Economic Affairs as a ban would involve changing
the law
By Loa Iok-sin / Staff Reporter
A mother dog lies down during a press
conference yesterday led by Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tien
Chiu-chin, seen holding a snare to the top right of the photo. The press
conference was held to draw attention to the problem of animal snares. The dog,
who had just given birth, has had part of her paw cut off.
PHOTO: CNA
Animal rights activists yesterday urged the government to ban
the purchase and sale of animal traps, as many pets as well as children have
fallen victim to them.
Showing a picture of a black dog surrounded by seven newborn puppies, Juan Mei-ling
(阮美玲), executive director of Life Caring and Animal Rescue Organization, said
the dog lost part of its front paw after being caught in a trap in Sindian
District (新店), New Taipei City (新北市), last month.
“The dog was pregnant when it was found, so the veterinarian could not operate
on her,” Juan told a news conference in Taipei. “When we could finally do the
operation after the puppies were born, the wound has become so bad we could only
cut off the palm.”
Juan said that the Sindian case was not an isolated one.
Each year, hundreds of pets, as well as stray dogs and cats, are injured by
animal traps across the country, she said, adding that children had sometimes
become victims, too.
“Our rescue team has saved many cats and dogs wounded by animal traps — but
sometimes these wounded animals away out of fear and pain, and we don’t always
find them,” Juan said, while urging the government to ban sale of animal traps
to prevent further injuries.
Supporting Juan’s call, Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Tien Chiu-chin
(田秋堇) cited the case of an Austrian girl who almost broke her arm when she
accidentally touched an animal trap.
“That led to a complete ban of animal traps in that country,” she said.
“The government should not wait until a tragedy like that happens in Taiwan
before banning animal traps,” she said.
Lin Tsung-yi (林宗毅), a Council of Agriculture official who attended the news
conference, said that under current laws, “the use of animal traps is
restricted, but sales are allowed.”
“If we are to prohibit sales [of animal traps], we have to talk to the Ministry
of Economic Affairs about revising the law,” Lin said. “But before doing so,
we’ve asked stores selling animal traps to instruct buyers about the rules on
using animal traps. Right now, misuse [of animal traps] is subject to a fine of
NT$15,000 to NT$70,000.”
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