Taipei: Police and animal welfare authorities are investigating an incident in which a pit bull leaped out of the window of its owner's truck and bit a motorcyclist, marking the second occurrence of such an event this month. The incident took place on Monday, just 11 days after a similar attack happened in another part of the city.
According to Focus Taiwan, the dog named "Lucky" was accompanying its owner, a man surnamed Hsu, on Wolong St., Lane 188 in Taipei's Daan District at around 8:40 a.m. when it suddenly jumped out of the rear passenger side window of the truck and bit a motorcyclist who was stopped at a red light. The motorcyclist, whose identity has not been disclosed, sustained lacerations above his right knee before Hsu managed to pull the dog away. The injured motorcyclist sought medical treatment at a hospital after the incident.
Hsu, who is approximately 60 years old, explained that the dog managed to jump out of the window after rolling it down using the truck's automatic window feature, according to police sources. This recent attack mirrors a previous one that occurred only 11 days earlier when the same pit bull leaped out of the truck and bit another motorcyclist at a red light on Wanmei Street in Wenshan District.
Hua Hsin-huei, an official from the Taipei City Animal Protection Office, stated that the agency was still in the process of taking a statement from the victim of the first attack when the second incident occurred. Hsu could face penalties under the Animal Protection Act for failing to properly restrain an aggressive pet in public. Possible fines range from NT$30,000 (US$909) to NT$90,000 for the first attack and from NT$90,000 to NT$150,000 for the second.
Animal protection officials plan to meet with Hsu to discuss possible measures for controlling the dog. If Hsu is unable to propose effective control steps, the animal may be seized and impounded, Hua mentioned. Regarding the handling of the first attack, Hua noted that officials did not seize the dog initially because Hsu had assured them that he would keep it leashed and muzzled when outdoors.
