Week 3 Twelve Nights

6:31 am HKT
Dec 13, 2013

ARTS & CULTURE

Film Triggers Debate on Plight of Taiwan’s Homeless Dogs

By

JENNY W. HSU

A new documentary about the plight of animals in Taiwan’s shelters has sparked a public discussion about the treatment of stray dogs and cats on the island, prompting the government to amend its policies.

“Twelve Nights,” shot almost entirely inside a government-run animal shelter in southern Taiwan, follows the fate of several stray dogs, starting from their initial capture on the streets. After 12 days in the shelter, the animals are destroyed, have died of disease, or, if they are lucky, end up in the arms of a new owner.

Although the problem of street dogs isn’t a fresh one in Taiwan, the movie has attracted a throng of animal lovers. As of the beginning of this week, “Twelve Nights” had pulled in more 30 million New Taiwan dollars (US$1 million) since its release on Nov. 29, according to the film’s distributor, a considerable amount for a documentary in Taiwan.

The film opens with a black-and-white puppy named Jumpy prancing happily in a well-manicured neighborhood and other harmless-looking dogs wandering the streets.

The scene quickly changes. Animals — including a kitten and a basket full of puppies — are jerked and tossed around by workers as they are taken to the shelter.

http://blogs.wsj.com/scene/2013/12/13/film-triggers-debate-on-plight-of-taiwans-homeless-dogs/

Structure of the Lead:

      WHO-not given

      WHAT- Twelve Nights

      WHEN- Nov. 29

      WHY- prompting the government to amend its policies

WHERE- government-run animal shelter in southern Taiwan

HOW-not given

Keywords:

1.    documentary 紀錄

2.      plight 困境

3.    amend 修改

4.      government-run 官辦

5.      a throng of 一大群

6.      prancing 躍馬

7.    manicured 修剪

8.    jerk 抖