NGOs: Stray Dogs Cost Society NT$3.64 Billion Annually; Call for Reduction Plan
Civil groups in Taiwan highlighted that stray dogs cause NT$3.64 billion in social costs annually. They called for a budget freeze on animal protection and demanded a concrete reduction plan from the Ministry of Agriculture.
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- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 14:25
- 🔍 Collected: April 29, 2026 at 14:31 (6 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 29, 2026 at 15:39 (1h 7m after Collected)
Several wildlife and environmental groups held a press conference today, pointing out that the issue of stray dogs remains unresolved, causing an annual social cost of NT$3.6 billion. They urged the Legislative Yuan to freeze relevant budgets and demanded the Animal Protection Division of the Ministry of Agriculture propose a concrete reduction plan.
Jiang Wen-chuan, Director of the Animal Protection Division, told CNA that there is a rural-urban divide regarding stray dogs. Stray dog populations are still prevalent in rural and agricultural counties, while they have significantly decreased in urban areas. He stated that supervision will continue in agricultural regions.
Regarding the legal status of those who feed stray dogs, Jiang said it depends on individual cases. Under current laws, a feeder cannot be universally classified as an 'owner' without evidence of fixed-point and regular feeding.
According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, the estimated number of stray dogs in Taiwan for 2024 is 141,584, an 11.34% decrease from the 159,697 estimated in 2022. The ministry believes that owner responsibility is the key—if owners do not abandon or free-roam their pets and ensure sterilization, the conflict between humans, wildlife, and dogs can be fundamentally improved.
Li Zong-chen, Chairman of the Alliance for Wildlife Action, stated that the TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) policy has failed to solve the problem and has resulted in NT$3.64 billion in annual social costs. He noted that stray dogs have caused 42 traffic fatalities within the last five years.
The alliance, along with groups like the Taiwan WildOne Wildlife Conservation Association and the Taiwan Pangolin Conservation Association, called on the Legislative Yuan to freeze budgets until the Ministry of Agriculture provides a reform plan. They also proposed identifying 'long-term feeders' as owners under the Animal Protection Act to ensure accountability.
Zheng Xian-can, a director of the Taiwan Leopard Cat Conservation Association, shared that stray dogs invading chicken coops cause significant losses. Based on Changhua County statistics, it is estimated that at least 550 such incidents occur annually nationwide, causing farmers NT$30 million in property damage, excluding unreported cases.
Wang Shi-wei from the WildOne Association pointed out that current policies allow stray dogs to attack wildlife, which is a waste of conservation resources. He mentioned the pangolin as an example; although Taiwan is a global model for pangolin conservation, dog attacks are now the primary cause of pangolin injuries seen in rescue centers. A single pangolin provides immense environmental value, eating millions of termites annually. Based on international journals, the pangolins attacked by dogs last year alone represented an ecological loss of approximately NT$140 million.
Jiang Wen-chuan, Director of the Animal Protection Division, told CNA that there is a rural-urban divide regarding stray dogs. Stray dog populations are still prevalent in rural and agricultural counties, while they have significantly decreased in urban areas. He stated that supervision will continue in agricultural regions.
Regarding the legal status of those who feed stray dogs, Jiang said it depends on individual cases. Under current laws, a feeder cannot be universally classified as an 'owner' without evidence of fixed-point and regular feeding.
According to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, the estimated number of stray dogs in Taiwan for 2024 is 141,584, an 11.34% decrease from the 159,697 estimated in 2022. The ministry believes that owner responsibility is the key—if owners do not abandon or free-roam their pets and ensure sterilization, the conflict between humans, wildlife, and dogs can be fundamentally improved.
Li Zong-chen, Chairman of the Alliance for Wildlife Action, stated that the TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) policy has failed to solve the problem and has resulted in NT$3.64 billion in annual social costs. He noted that stray dogs have caused 42 traffic fatalities within the last five years.
The alliance, along with groups like the Taiwan WildOne Wildlife Conservation Association and the Taiwan Pangolin Conservation Association, called on the Legislative Yuan to freeze budgets until the Ministry of Agriculture provides a reform plan. They also proposed identifying 'long-term feeders' as owners under the Animal Protection Act to ensure accountability.
Zheng Xian-can, a director of the Taiwan Leopard Cat Conservation Association, shared that stray dogs invading chicken coops cause significant losses. Based on Changhua County statistics, it is estimated that at least 550 such incidents occur annually nationwide, causing farmers NT$30 million in property damage, excluding unreported cases.
Wang Shi-wei from the WildOne Association pointed out that current policies allow stray dogs to attack wildlife, which is a waste of conservation resources. He mentioned the pangolin as an example; although Taiwan is a global model for pangolin conservation, dog attacks are now the primary cause of pangolin injuries seen in rescue centers. A single pangolin provides immense environmental value, eating millions of termites annually. Based on international journals, the pangolins attacked by dogs last year alone represented an ecological loss of approximately NT$140 million.