An infant red poodle clumsily walks around the offices of the Kaohisung Concern for Stray Animals Association. Unfamiliar with its surroundings, the animal bumps into chairs and tables, but resolutely tries to familiarize itself with its new home. The little dog was born without eyes.
The association says a man called last week seeking help in caring for the newlborn puppy.
The man — who owns a store selling roast chicken in Kaohisung’s Kangshan District (岡山) — said he would not be able to take care of the puppy due to work commitments and did not want dog-breeders to get their hands on her, fearing that then more dogs would be born with the disability. The man said he had agreed to have his poodle inseminated because a relative wanted a red poodle puppy.
Photo: Tung Han-ni, Taipei Times
Wang Hsiao-hua (王小華), chairwoman of the animal association, said that people who really want to own a dog should do so to cherish a living being rather than for just liking the look of a certain breed.
Red poodles have become a must-have item on the pet market and rushed breeding to keep up with demand has led to many puppies being born with disfiguring defects, Wang said, adding that if the poodle pup somehow ended up in the clutches of ruthless dog-breeders, she would end up giving birth to more dogs with the same defect.
These dogs would be unsellable and would most likely be tossed on a roadside and left to fend for themselves, Wang said, adding that they would almost certainly perish.
The red poodle puppy is now being kept at the association and Wang said it was destined to be its new home as chances were slim that anyone would want to adopt an eye-less dog.
Feng Tsung-hung (馮宗宏), chief at the Hungli Animal Clinic, said that in-breeding was one cause of genetic mutations. Sometimes this caused no changes in the physical appearance of the animal, but their immune systems were weaker and they had shorter lifespans compared with other dogs, he added.
Feng also said that, in addition to the eye-less red poodle, he had seen puppies missing a leg and with deficiencies in brain development.
One of the reasons dog-breeders undertake the practice, is that the genetic mutations may also produce a stronger species. However, the chances of natural defects far outweigh the possibility of having a canine with superior traits, said Feng.
“We don’t know how dog breeders deal with the pups born with birth defects and whether they keep them, administer euthanasia or cast them out on the street,” Feng said, adding that this was why he opposed in-breeding.
Household pets also exhibit the tendency to in-breed and if pups from the same litter procreate, it is very possible that a genetically mutated dog with some sort of deficiency would be born, Feng said.
Translated by Jake Chung, staff writer
SPACE VETERAN: Kjell N. Lindgren, who helps lead NASA’s human spaceflight missions, has been on two expeditions on the ISS and has spent 311 days in space Taiwan-born US astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren is to visit Taiwan to promote technological partnerships through one of the programs organized by the US for its 250th national anniversary. Lindgren would be in Taiwan from Tuesday to Saturday next week as part of the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ US Speaker Program, organized to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said in a statement yesterday. Lindgren plans to engage with key leaders across the nation “to advance cutting-edge technological partnerships and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers,”
UNREASONABLE SURVEILLANCE: A camera targeted on an road by a neighbor captured a man’s habitual unsignaled turn into home, netting him dozens of tickets The Taichung High Administrative Court has canceled all 45 tickets given to a man for failing to use a turn signal while driving, as it considered long-term surveillance of his privacy more problematic than the traffic violations. The man, surnamed Tseng (曾), lives in Changhua County and was reported 45 times within a month for failing to signal while driving when he turned into the alley where his residence is. The reports were filed by his neighbor, who set up security cameras that constantly monitored not only the alley but also the door and yard of Tseng’s house. The surveillance occurred from July
A Japan Self-Defense Forces vessel entered the Taiwan Strait yesterday, Japanese media reported. After passing through the Taiwan Strait, the Ikazuchi was to proceed to the South China Sea to take part in a joint military exercise with the US and the Philippines, the reports said. Japan Self-Defense Force vessels were first reported to have passed through the strait in September, 2024, with two further transits taking place in February and June last year, the Asahi Shimbun reported. Yesterday’s transit also marked the first time since Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi took office that a Japanese warship has been sent through the Taiwan
‘SAME OLD TRICK’: Even if Beijing resumes individual travel to Taiwan, it would only benefit Chinese tourism companies, the Economic Democracy Union convener said China’s 10 new “incentives” are “sugar-coated poison,” an official said yesterday, adding that Taiwanese businesses see them clearly for what they are, but that Beijing would inevitably find some local collaborators to try to drums up support. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, made the remark ahead of a news conference the General Chamber of Commerce is to hold today. The event, titled “Industry Perspectives on China’s Recent Pro-Taiwan Policies,” is expected to include representatives from industry associations — such as those in travel, hotels, food and agriculture — to request the government cooperate with China’s new measures, people familiar with
RSS