I've decided to post this in the Living in Taiwan forum but if the mods deem it more suitable somewhere else.... feel free to move it.

I had one hell of a bad Monday. Driving home from Xizhi this morning I found myself at the Xin Tai Wu Rd./Da Tong Rd. intersection (the corner where Costco is.) I was waiting to turn left onto Da Tong Rd. The Da Tong Rd. traffic was turning left onto Xin Tai Wu Rd. While I was waiting in the scooter box a car turning left at full speed opened it's driver's side door and tossed a cat out of their car. The semi-truck that was behind it ran over the cat with it's front wheels and then with it's back wheels. The next car ran over the cat again. It somehow survived but with obvious broken bones as it could barely get up, and wandered right into the middle of the intersection because it's back legs were crushed as well as one of it's front legs. No cars stopped. Right as I was about to kick-stand my scooter my light turned green and NO ONE would stop even though everyone behind me saw this and saw me scramble to try and get off my bike to get it. I was pushed along by traffic and have no idea what happened to that cat. I doubt it could make it to the curb. It probably got run over and over again.

I've been here 5 years and have done a pretty good job of keeping an open mind about all the shit that goes on in this country. But as of today, I offically hate it and (I'm going to make a sweeping statement here) all the heartless fuckers in it. Who the FUCK tosses a cat out of a moving vehicle? Who the FUCK doesn't stop and moreover who doesn't stop when they see someone trying to?!! I flinched and almost vomited when I saw it tumbling under the wheels. No one around me seemed blink although they were all watching it.

ugh.
That's vile.

I realise that I'm battling my sanity but that would have sent me completely over the edge....

The term 'Loose Cannon' doesn't even begin to explain what I would have done in that situation.

During one week last April I witnessed two separate and very grim human fatalities here in Kaohsiung; and at very close range. The first was one of those tiny little women in straw hats who maintain the greenery on the big road by the airport, the other was an old man taken out by a careless merge in the North part of town. Such carelessness and tragedy... It's hard to witness these things without seriously questioning the basic values of this society.

I have a only been here a few months so I am still trying to figure out the attitude toward pets. Some people seem to really love and care for their pets. Some of my students talk about their pets at home the same way people do in the states.

But I have seen a few things that worry me. I wonder what the average sensitivity level is towards animals suffering, or suffering in general?

As for the above story--I would have been devastated if I witnessed it. I also would beat the shit out of the guy if I got my hands on him. I would be proud to be deported for it.

There's a series of dead-end streets out here near Zhao Ming that have become popular pet-dumping grounds. It's something I didn't want to beleive until one day when I saw a car stop, the door open, and a dog was kicked out of the car. It hopped back in before the door was closed, and then a kid kicked it out again with both feet. Dad (or uncle, who knows) then sped off and left the poor thing there.

You have to excuse them ... they are too busy making money, chewing binlang, gulping Kaoliang, singing karaoke ... and trying to oust their president ... so no time respecting other people and creatures ...

yup. Hope they all rot in hell. I hate this place and everyone in it. I don't give a rat's ass if I'm lumping the whole lot into the pile of shit cause that's what this place is and produces.

I just told me wife about this story and she cried. So, you know, not everyone...

We just got ourselves a new dog. Beautiful yellow lab about 2 years old. Gentle, beautifully behaved, silent. Why the fuck did someone dump him down at Bitan? What possible reason? Other than the ones you stated, that is?

Really hard to fathom. Good for you for at least trying to help, though.

I'm seriously considering leaving Taiwan ...