I posted this in David's thread Hoopers with Dogs but I don't think anyone noticed it. I figured if I gave it it's own thread then maybe it would get a little attention. I've also added a few pics.

Some people know about Taiwan's stray animal problem... few realize just how bad it is. For a half crazy animal lover like me it can be kinda painful. And I live in what the local ex-pat crew fondly refer to as the "ghetto by the sea," so the problem is especially bad here.
(plz read: http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=e3336dd2-bdea...)
In the 1990s, Taiwan cities and counties would drown or starve dogs, animal rights groups say. Now they are sent to shelters and put down after a week unless adopted <---I can personally affirm this claim. Except that the article is misleading in it's insinuiation that drowning and starving dogs is a thing of the past. Though it's not as widespread, it definitely still happens. Other people will poison dogs.

In addition to the 3 stray cats I've rescued since coming to Taiwan, about a month and a half ago I rescued a dog. It was a stupid idea, and I think I knew it at the time... I'm not even a "dog person". But she was a good-natured animal, who seemed sick, and so sad. She understood Mandarin "sit," "come," and "don't do that!" so it was pretty obvious she'd been abandoned. I couldn't help myself. I had to take her in.

The local vet soon informed me that my new dog was pregnant. I wanted to spay her then and there but vets in Taiwan generally won't do an abortion procedure. So in about a week now I'm going to have 7 puppies. Dealing with this has been, to say the least, a mission and a half (...which is going to turn into a real adventure once the babies are actually born...)

On that note, I actually have a purpose for bringing this up. A friend of mine runs a charity which fosters stray dogs. It can be tricky because very few Taiwanese are willing to adopt an animal (attitude towards animals are really different here than the West). However, my friend has had a fair bit of success sending dogs oversees to families in America. We are definitely looking into this as an option. We are willing to help cover the cost associated with this so long as the puppies will be going to good homes.

SO. If anyone is interested in a genuine Taiwanese Mountain Dog and wants to help out a pet in need and a fellow hooper, please shoot me a PM or email me at shanny_b@hotmail.com

Much thanks,
Shan

pic 1 - Eva in all her pregnant glory. Thus far, she's not a fan of the awesome pen we built her... let's hope this changes before the puppies are born.

pic 2 - me after yet another day of work on Eva's pen. See all the bamboo on the otherside? The entire yard was overgrown like that before we cleared it out.

pic 3 - an american pal of mine used his awesome farming skills to build us this badass gate!