LYS整理 11/19/2000

When will it end?

Marbopipi(於澳洲): on September 20, 2000

First I apologise for writing in English. Not because I want to show off, simply for I don't have a Chinese input device.

I was a graduate from Vet School NTU. In 1997, I was intensively involved in the case of the Miss Tu with Gimy, other vet students, and LCA (Life Conservation Association) for a couple of months. It ended up that not many of us could afford a long term commitment in this matter. For it was an extremely frustrating and exhausting process, as well as for the realisation that we couldn't change anything -- as long as Miss Tu is there, the dogs stay and more dogs join in, and the suffering continues..

For the past two years, I escaped to another land and completely distanced myself from issues of stray animals, animal rights and welfare in Taiwan. At that time, my vet background didn't allow me to ignore the appalling conditions of those abandoned street dogs, puppies and kittens on the Taipei streets. However, the more I tried to help (feeding them, rehoming puppies. neutering ...etc.), the more I realised that things will not change, if Taiwan people cannot start to learn that animals are also creatures, that they have intellegence, emotions, sensors for pain, hunger and fear just like you and me! For those who claim that human species are above all and that we have the right to do whatever we want to an animal. take off your clothes and look at yourself---you are just an animal too!

On this distant land, I learned that how bad the reputation Taiwan people (or Chinese, or Asians) have in the eyes of general Western people regarding animal welfare. One of my dearest local friends, who was embarrassed when telling me the truth, said that local white people don't want Chinese neighbors because "We are afraid that they will eat our pets". One day her cat was gone astray for couple of days, and there are some Chinese families in the I really don't think that they will have appetite in cats nowadays. However she was only convinced when her cat turned up in a local cat haven. I couldn't feel more sorrow at time like this -- a dog breeder was arrested by RSPCA for cruelty to his dogs (20 something jammed in small cages and full of diseases) and he was charged several months later again for the same cruelty, and of course, he is a Chinese. People asked me, " Why don't Chinese love animals?" Can I reply that you usually don't fall in love with your food, or that Chinese are just so money-minded, or ruel, that they don't spare their time for something not is profitable??

This is the second time, for the past two years, that I log on Taiwanese sites to read dog news. What hurt me 2 years ago still hurts me, that many many dogs in Taiwan are still suffering, endlessly, just for being a dog. When will it end? When can we try to be developed, not in terms of economy, but humanity, that we can treat animals right if we want to, and less pain and tears for both species??

Last, I thank whoever takes time to read this. I will very much appreciate it if someone can, kindlessly, translate my view for non-English speaking audiences.


大牛翻譯:

首先跟大家道歉我寫英文,不是要炫耀,而是沒有中文輸入的軟體。

我是台大獸醫系畢業。在1997年時,我曾密切的跟獸醫系的同學,關懷生命協會跟 Gimy一起幫助杜小妹好幾個月。後來我們無法長期持續下去,因為這是件又累又吃力不討好的工作。而且我們發現,只要杜小妹在的一天,我們就無法改變這裡的狀況。狗狗只進不出…不停的進來也不停的受苦。

這兩年我離開了台灣,不再去管台灣流浪動物的事。在台灣時,獸醫背景讓我無法不去理會哪些被遺棄在街頭的小貓小狗們的慘狀。但我越幫卻越發現,只要台灣人一天不體認動物也跟人一樣有感情、會痛、會餓、會思考,現況將無法改善。那些自以為人類是萬物主宰的人,脫下衣服看看自己,你會發現你也只是一隻動物!

在這遙遠的國度,我發現東方人在動物保護方面的形象非常的差。我一個很好的朋友很不好意思的告訴我說,這裡的白人不喜歡跟中國人做鄰居,因為怕自己的寵物被吃掉。我一個鄰居的貓失蹤了兩三天,她跑來問我會不會是被鄰居的中國人吃掉了?我一直跟她保證說現在沒人吃貓了,她都不信,直到她找到她的貓。真讓我難過。

有一個繁殖者因虐畜(把二十幾隻病狗關在一個小籠子裡)被 RSPCA 逮捕,幾個月後又因同樣的原因被逮捕。當然,他也是中國人。人們問我「為什麼中國人不愛動物?」我難道可以說,因為中國人不會愛上自己的食物,或是中國人眼中只有錢,不賺錢的事不會有人去做的嗎?

這是這兩年來我第二次上台灣的網路看有關流浪狗的消息。兩年前讓我難過的事,現在依然讓我難過。那麼多的狗還在不停的受苦受難。什麼時候才能停止?什麼時候我們可以發展我們的人道精神,而不只是經濟的發展?什麼時候我們可以善待動物,減少彼此的痛苦及眼淚?

最後我感謝花時間讀這篇文章的人,並感謝幫我翻譯的人。


流浪狗話題