Story By: John Feng, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
Video Credit: AsiaWire
This is the viral moment – seen over a million times in less than 24 hours – witnesses spot a motorist walking a pet dog from the driver’s side window of his moving SUV on a busy road.
The pooch, which appears to be a Boston terrier, manages to keep pace with the white Nissan X-trail as its owner drives around Rongxing Garden Park in Taipei, capital of Taiwan.
The as yet unidentified owner, said to be around 40 to 50 years old, was filmed on the evening of 10th July as his SUV hugged the side of Minquan West Road while the pooch walked next to it in heavy traffic.
Pictures Credit: AsiaWire
Taipei resident Mr Tsu told Asia Wire the motorist refused to stop “despite passers-by urging him to let the dog in the car”.
“He had the window down and was driving with one hand while holding the lead with the other,” Mr Tsu said.
He and other witnesses called the police, who have summoned the driver, but no punishment had been announced at the time of writing.
Police with Taipei’s Zhongshan Precinct said the driver faces a fine of between 6,000 and 24,000 TWD (154 and 617 GBP) for dangerous driving, as well as an additional ticket of between 300 and 600 TWD (10 and 15 GBP) for allowing an animal onto the road.
The capital’s Animal Protection Office said the motorist’s actions were a breach of the island’s Animal Protection Act, which forbids the walking of pets using cars or motorcycles.
Offenders found doing so and causing injury to the animal as a result can be fined between 15,000 and 75,000 TWD (385 and 1,930 GBP).
However, in cases of serious injury, maiming or death of the animal, punishment rises to between 200,000 and 2 million TWD (5,145 and 51,451 GBP), as well as up to two years’ imprisonment.
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