In a concerning series of incidents, a pit bull in Taipei has bitten two people within an 11-day span. The dog, owned by a man surnamed Hsu, first attacked a motorcyclist on March 6 in Wenshan District. The second attack occurred on March 17 in Daan District, where the dog jumped out of a vehicle window and bit another motorcyclist stopped at a red light.
Seizure and Fines
Following these incidents, the Taipei Animal Protection Office took decisive action. On Tuesday, officials visited Hsu's home in Wenshan District to confiscate the dog. Chen Chun-an, Commissioner of the Taipei Department of Economic Development, was present during the operation. The dog, named "Lucky", was calmly led away and placed in a vehicle with a muzzle to prevent further incidents.
The city government has imposed a total fine of NT$200,000 on Hsu for violating the Animal Protection Act by failing to properly control his aggressive pet in public. The maximum fine for such violations is NT$150,000, but due to the severity of the situation, additional penalties were applied.
Future of the Dog
Lucky is currently being held in a separate enclosure at the animal protection office's facility to minimize stress. Authorities are seeking a new owner for the dog, preferably someone with experience handling pit bulls. If Lucky's behavior cannot be improved, euthanasia may be considered as a last resort.
Background
The first attack occurred on March 6 when the dog jumped out of Hsu's vehicle at a red light and bit a motorcyclist. Despite Hsu's promise to keep the dog leashed and muzzled, a second attack happened just 11 days later under similar circumstances. Neither of the victims has filed a lawsuit against Hsu, but he is negotiating compensation with them.
