Controversy over dog traps and ultrasonic dog repellers used in Hualien
Controversy over dog traps and ultrasonic dog repellers used in Hualien
2023-06-28
Controversy has erupted over methods used to manage stray dogs in Hualien. After more than 400 reports of "dog attacks" in Hualien last year, officials are trying to remove stray dogs from popular tourist areas such as Qixingtan beach. They’ve installed ultrasonic dog repellers and dog traps in public places. But some residents are against the move. They say the repellers will just drive the strays from one place to another, without addressing the root causes of the problem.
A black box in the ground blinks continuously. This is an ultrasonic dog repeller.
Qixingtan is one of the most popular tourist spots in Hualien and a must-visit for many travelers. It’s also a favorite exercise and dog-walking spot for locals. But there are occasionally attacks made by stray dogs here, leading to anxiety among some local residents.
Mr. Ho
Local resident
One time I came across four or five dogs. I saw them over there, stayed there, and then I thought they’re probably fine. I walked over and, oh my, suddenly they all came up to me. So I do get worried.
Hualien County government recorded 424 reports of “dog attacks” last year. Now officials have set up these traps in areas where such reports are frequent. When necessary, a vet will be called to dispatch a dog. They’ve also installed these ultrasonic repellers in the hope of driving the dogs away.
Chou-huang Te-jung
Hualien Animal and Plant Disease Control Center
The principle is that humans can hear certain audio frequencies, but animals can pick up different frequencies. Different frequencies stimulate them in different ways and it switches between them.
Humans can hear sounds between a range of 20 to 20,000 Hertz. But dogs can hear sounds at 30,000 Hertz. So repellers can drive away dogs without being audible to humans, by producing sounds above the level audible to humans.
Lin Hsiao-hui
Hualien animal protection activist
It’s just sending the dog from one place to another. The problem continues to exist.
Stray dogs are disturbed by the noise and avoid them. But pet owners are concerned that their animals could also be disturbed during walks. Experts suggest that if your animal has a bad reaction to the repeller, take them away from the location as soon as possible.
降低人犬衝突! 花蓮七星潭試辦"音頻驅狗器"
2023-06-28
花蓮七星潭風景優美、寬闊平坦，時常有遊客到訪，當地也有不少流浪狗，去年通報人犬衝突案件就有4百多件。花蓮縣府為了驅狗，在七星潭試辦"音頻驅狗器"，希望透過高音頻，達到驅狗的效果。
插在草地上的黑色盒子，上頭燈泡不斷閃爍著，這是趕狗用的"音頻驅狗器"。
七星潭是很多遊客到花蓮必訪的景點之一，更是當地居民運動、遛狗的好去處。但有時候一些流浪狗會突然攻擊人，導致當地居民人心惶惶。
[[附近居民 何先生]]
“我有一次就是遇到了4、5隻狗，看在那邊蹲在那邊，我也覺得應該沒什麼，我走過去，哇整個都過來了，所以會很擔心。”
根據花蓮縣府統計，去年通報的"人犬衝突"共有424件，就怕流浪狗造成更多問題，縣府在通報熱點區設置誘捕籠，必要時請獸醫到場吹箭。最近也裝上"音頻驅狗器"，希望先把狗趕走。
[[花蓮縣動植物防疫所所長 周黃得榮]]
“原理就是因為人可以聽到的一些不同的頻率，但是可能動物牠可以接受到的音頻，不同的音頻對動物有不同的刺激，來做一些切換。”
人類可以聽到20至2萬赫茲的聲音，狗可以聽到3萬赫茲的音頻，驅狗器只要發出介於2萬到3萬赫茲間的音頻，就可以在不擾人的前提下，達到驅狗的目的。
[[花蓮動保人士 林小慧]]
“只是把狗從這一邊然後趕到另外一邊，那問題一樣存在。”
流浪狗聽到音頻驅狗器的聲響，不敢靠近，但就怕驅狗器對來飼主帶來散步的寵物造成危害，專家也提醒民眾，如果寵物有不適反應，就應該馬上將毛孩帶離現場。
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