Taiwan's Hsinchu City's "city dog" was retired, sparking outrage over its "use it, throw it away" political show.

In November 2020, Lin Zhijian, who was the mayor of Hsinchu City at the time, announced that the 7-year-old stray dog, Palm Palm, had become a city dog with a dedicated caretaker.

As southern Taiwan reels from heavy rain and flooding, a message from volunteers at the Hsinchu City Animal Shelter has sparked outrage across Taiwan. The volunteers discovered that Brown Brown, once chosen by former Hsinchu City Mayor Lin Chih-chien to be the city's "government dog," was now back at the shelter awaiting adoption. Following media and public scrutiny, the truth emerged: Brown Brown, who had graced the city government in 2020, had been retired in April 2021 and remains at the shelter ever since.

To recap, in 2020, the Hsinchu City Government, in an effort to promote animal adoption from shelters, adopted a seven-year-old Mixed Collie, a large dog that was difficult to adopt. They named him "Brown" after his coat color. Then-Mayor Lin Chih-chien personally attended the adoption ceremony and press conference and announced that Brown would be stationed at the City Hall, accompanying staff and residents. He also hoped to change public perceptions of stray dogs and foster a more welcoming atmosphere in the city.

Initially, Brown, a media sensation, had his own kennel and free space, a dedicated feeding shift, and even a Facebook page documenting his daily life. Lin Chi-chien frequently posted photos of himself and Brown on Facebook, earning praise from animal protection groups, who considered him an example of the city government's commitment to and leadership in animal protection policy. After news of Brown's quiet return to the shelter surfaced, former city officials explained that the city had returned him to the shelter for behavioral training and care in April 2021 after he repeatedly attacked people and injured journalists. However, they did not explain why he was no longer being taken back to the city.

Hsinchu's "city dog" Brownie Brown used to have a big kennel and a lot of love, but in less than half a year, he was returned to the shelter.

In fact, while still serving as the city dog, Brown was seen many times by the public locked in an iron cage, unable to move freely. He also ran out to wander around the streets alone. Only animal protection volunteers would take Brown for walks regularly on weekends.

After the news that the city had retired Brown Brown was confirmed, many people left comments on Lin Chi-chien's Facebook page, saying things like, "Use your furry friend and then throw him away? He only cares about his image and disregards life. How selfish and self-serving!" and "What a disgusting person! His personality is fake." Animal protection groups also publicly condemned the move, saying, "Regardless of whether Brown Brown, the 'city dog,' has bitten anyone, adopting him is a commitment. Public sector leaders, in particular, should lead by example and fulfill their responsibilities as owners, rather than allowing an old dog, once considered a symbol of a progressive city and adopted by the mayor as a role model, to become abandoned again."

This incident not only highlights the possibility that politicians may manipulate animal protection issues for image purposes, but also reflects the serious lack of sincerity and responsibility of the municipal team. Even if the city government assessed that the environment was not suitable for Brown Dog to live in, they should have found a suitable owner and family for him and made a full explanation to the public, instead of quietly returning him. As a result, Brown Dog, who was returned to the shelter, has to wait for four years and is now a 12-year-old senior dog, making it even more difficult for him to be adopted.

Hsinchu's "city dog" Brownie Brown used to have a big kennel and a lot of love, but in less than half a year, he was returned to the shelter.

After two days of silence, Lin Zhijian finally posted an apology on Facebook and announced that he had found a suitable caregiver for Brown. While the apology and remedial measures may have been a little late, we are still happy to see Brown leave the shelter. We also hope that all politicians will learn from this: animals are not props and should not be sacrificed for political shows. Before they talk about "building an animal-friendly city," politicians must first ask themselves whether they truly respect life and treat animals with kindness.