Renyitan Reservoir becomes dumping ground for abandoned dogs: Official

Taipei, June 28 (CNA) More than 1,000 stray dogs are estimated to be roaming around Renyitan Reservoir in Chiayi County, where local authorities say pet abandonment has become a persistent problem.

Lin Pei-ju (林珮如), director of the Chiayi County Livestock Disease Control Center, said in a recent Facebook post that the reservoir has effectively become a "sacred site" for pet abandonment and what she described as misguided acts of charity.

The area is home to more than 1,000 stray dogs and over 30 regular feeders, she said.

Speaking to CNA on Sunday, Lin said the center launched an enhanced stray dog management project in the Renyitan area earlier this year after achieving promising results with an AI-assisted "smart fence" capture system in Chiayi County's coastal areas last year.

However, surveillance footage showed that some animal feeders had deliberately disrupted capture efforts by releasing dogs that had entered the smart fence enclosure.

Several hundred dogs are abandoned in the area each year, creating a vicious cycle that allows the stray population to continue growing, Lin said.

She added that during a field visit with a local farmer last week, she witnessed someone abandoning five or six newborn puppies near the reservoir, underscoring the persistence of illegal pet dumping.

Lin urged people who feed stray animals to cooperate with authorities by helping arrange neutering and rabies vaccinations, and allowing aggressive dogs to be taken to shelters when necessary.

Dog owners should also comply with regulations by microchipping and neutering their pets to help prevent further abandonment, she said.

Renyitan Reservoir, on the border of Fanlu Township in Chiayi County and Chiayi City, is largely surrounded by water source protection areas, forests and farmland with relatively little human activity, making it an attractive location for people to abandon animals.

The area's large stray dog population has long troubled local residents and visitors, according to the center.