Taiwan: Teen Injured After Being Chased by Dogs into Ditch

Tragic incidents involving stray dogs continue to plague Hemei Township in Changhua, with the latest victim being a 14-year-old junior high school student. Riding his electric scooter on Taiping Road, the boy was relentlessly pursued by a pack of three dogs, forcing him to swerve and fall into a roadside ditch, sustaining injuries to both legs.

“

Hemei Township's Taiping Road has once again seen a dog chasing people incident, this time a junior high school boy riding an electric scooter fell into a ditch.

This incident is particularly alarming as it involves dogs believed to be part of a larger pack of 15 that had previously terrorized the area. Last month, authorities managed to capture 12 of these dogs after at least 10 separate attacks on residents. The fact that three dogs remained at large and have now caused further harm highlights a persistent public safety issue.

“

These three dogs are likely the ones that were not caught last month. They always travel in packs and chase people when they see someone riding by, which is too dangerous.

According to local councilor Lai Ching-mei, the dogs were originally owned by a woman who, after falling ill and being hospitalized, left her husband unable to care for them. He subsequently released the leashed dogs, leading to the string of aggressive encounters. While most of the animals were rounded up, the escapees have continued to pose a significant threat, demonstrating the challenges of managing stray animal populations and ensuring community safety. Local officials are now urged to address the situation promptly to prevent further harm.

“

If the dogs have an owner, and the manager has not fulfilled their responsibilities, they can be fined NT$3,000 to NT$150,000 according to the Animal Protection Act.