Taiwan's Rogue Fur Babies: The Case of Stray Dogs in Taiwan

Could the increase of stray dogs in Taiwan be linked to the fur baby boom?

With the number of domesticated dogs in Taiwan soaring past 3 million for a population of roughly 23 million people, it would be an understatement to say that Taiwan is pet friendly.

Pets, more commonly referred to as fur babies (毛孩子, máoháizi, or 毛小孩) by doting pet parents, rule the streets; their wagons and strollers dominate the few sidewalks in Taiwan, with their couture ballerina tutus and booties rivalling even the highest forms of fashion at Taipei Fashion Week.

A permanent sight in any shopping mall – Gloria Outlets and Taipei 101 being the most popular – it is evident that we have entered the Taiwan fur baby boom. Indeed, it was even estimated that by 2020 there would be more pets than human children in Taiwan under the age of 15.

Whether that expectation has been fulfilled or not, it's clear that pets in Taiwan are here to stay.

Yet it’s not all fuzzy hugs and nose boops as demand for more pets could see an increasing number of stray dogs in Taiwan, even with the fur baby boom.

This is nothing new - Taiwan has long had a problem with stray dogs (commonly referred to as 流浪狗, liúlàng gǒu, or 流浪犬 liúlàng quǎn). However, in recent years, the situation has become increasingly troublesome and dangerous, with reports indicating that there may be half a million stray cats and dogs in Taiwan.

But is it really the fur baby boom that is contributing to the stray dog problem in Taiwan?