A “dog temple” truck driving on the road in Taipei has a number of dogs riding on the top of the truck without a guardrail and enclosed like livestock in the metal framed bed below. A sign above the vehicle’s license plate reads “dog temple” directly alongside a donation box holding several NT$100 bills. Another sign cinched to the edge of the truck spurs people to rescue and claims “actually, dogs don’t want to die”.
The truck routinely drives around the streets of downtown Taipei at night and displays the Taiwanese and Ukrainian flag on its sides. Sometimes it also displays American and Japanese flags. On the back, an electronic billboard radiates neon Buddhist and Daoist messages, catching the dogs in its glare.
In the front, the driver sits in the cab holding a microphone and blares out announcements carrying prophetic and moralistic overtones into the night. With the other hand, he grips the steering wheel while wending his way through traffic. Frequently he stops, drawing public attention to the dogs and marketing them in association with popular religion to persuade people to give to the “dog temple”.
The “dog temple” raises significant ethical questions and infringes on Taiwan’s animal welfare law. Riding on the roof of the truck instead of inside the vehicle, for example, may represent a danger to the safety of the animal. In addition, the dogs inside endure oppressive conditions that affect the animal’s well-being.
These observations are consistent with Taiwan’s Animal Protection Act signed in 2021. They are also shared by concerned netizens, who have previously leveled criticism against the “temple” for using the dogs as a ploy for money. Nonetheless, the truck continues to appear in various locations across Taipei, indicating that attempts to resolve the issue have been inadequate or ineffective.