TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A leading researcher warned Wednesday (Aug. 27) at the 14th Asia for Animals Conference (AfA) in Taiwan that feeding stray dogs severely undermines high-intensity neutering programs designed to control populations. The scholar emphasized that comprehensive education and stronger societal norms are essential to effectively address Taiwan's persistent stray dog crisis. The conference marks the first time this significant animal welfare gathering has been hosted in Taiwan.
The three-day conference, running from Aug. 26-28, featured critical insights on the challenges stray dogs pose to wildlife conservation and population management across Asia. Scholar Yen Shih-ching (顏士清) highlighted that Taiwan's stray dog crisis is closely linked to inadequate owner responsibility, emphasizing that feeding represents a crucial yet frequently overlooked factor in population control. Food resources determine environmental carrying capacity, Yen explained, resulting in stray dog densities that dramatically surpass those of native wildlife species.
Yen noted that animal protection groups have implemented high-intensity neutering through TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) programs, effectively reducing stray dog populations when 80% of female dogs undergo the procedure. The researcher stressed that indiscriminate feeding severely disrupts these neutering efforts by increasing birth rates, immigration patterns, and abandonment potential among stray dog populations. Feeding also creates dangerous situations where wildlife accidentally ingest food intended for stray dogs, creating additional ecological complications.
Research conducted by Yen in Taiwan's mountainous regions revealed that stray dog attacks represent the primary cause of pangolin rescues, with concerning incident increases documented since 2018. The scholar also identified dangerous disease transmission patterns between stray dogs and native wildlife species, including ferret-badgers and masked palm civets. These animals share diseases such as babesiosis, which can infect humans, creating serious implications for animal welfare, wildlife conservation, and public health safety.