On the evening of the 14th in Neipu Township, Pingtung County, Taiwan, a pit bull terrier aggressively attacked a Shiba Inu on the street around 5 PM. Witnesses at the scene quickly tried to separate the two dogs using sticks and brooms, but the pit bull held on tightly. Tragically, the Shiba Inu sustained severe injuries and later died, and the pit bull also died following the incident.
Video footage from the scene showed the pit bull was not leashed nor muzzled when it bit the Shiba Inu. Several bystanders attempted to intervene with brooms and iron rods, creating a tense and dangerous situation. The Shiba Inu was rushed to a veterinary hospital, where it was treated with morphine for pneumothorax and lacerations but ultimately passed away on the 15th.
The Shiba Inu's owner shared that they had raised the dog since December 2018, taking it on daily walks. On the day of the attack, they happened to pass by the location where the incident occurred. Neighbors' surveillance cameras captured the event. The owner recounted that the pit bull suddenly charged and attacked their dog without any chance to evade or defend, biting relentlessly. The Shiba Inu, a medium-sized dog weighing about 13 kilograms, was shaken violently like a mouse by the pit bull. Despite attempts to separate the dogs, the owner could not do so and urgently called for help. Many passersby, coincidentally off work at the time, assisted in trying to stop the attack.
The pit bull's owner claimed the dog was chained with a collar and chain when he left, but the dog broke free by itself after escaping from the chained table leg and broke through a door that was originally closed. He said he was unaware the dog was a pit bull and that it was a stray he had raised for five to six years. The owner expressed distress, stating, "They killed my dog with iron rods; my dog was innocent. When I came back, I saw my dog was dead." He questioned whether people could be more cruel and terrifying than dogs.
The Pingtung County Agriculture Department's Animal Protection Section sent personnel to the scene but did not find the pit bull. The owner confirmed the dog's death but was unclear about the dog's body disposal. Authorities have requested further clarification from the owner. The dog was identified as a pit bull, and the owner had not registered the dog as required. If confirmed, this violates Taiwan's Animal Protection Act, which prohibits keeping certain animals without registration and imposes fines ranging from NT$50,000 to NT$250,000. Additionally, neglecting to properly manage aggressive pets can result in fines from NT$30,000 to NT$150,000.
The Pingtung County Agriculture Department urged all pit bull owners to register their dogs and manage them responsibly to prevent such incidents.
