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A dog’s last moments photographed

Taiwanese photographer Tou Chih-kang tries to make a portrait of a puppy before it is put down by lethal injection at a shelter in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan.

Taiwanese photographer Tou Chih-kang tries to make a portrait of a puppy before it is put down by lethal injection at a shelter in Taoyuan, northern Taiwan.  (Wally Santana / Associated Press)

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Photographer Tou Chih-kang captures the last moment of shelter dogs before they are taken away by veterinarians to be put down. Tou has recorded the last moments of about 400 dogs, hoping the images will encourage responsibility among pet owners. Full story

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Tou calms a puppy before taking a picture.  (Wally Santana / Associated Press)

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Tou calms an excited dog.  (Wally Santana / Associated Press)

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Tou snaps a puppy. He has been visiting dog shelters for two years, making human-like portraits that give a sense of dignity and esteem to about 400 canines. This year Taiwanese authorities will kill an estimated 80,000 stray dogs at 38 pounds throughout the island.  (Wally Santana / Associated Press)

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Tou Chih-kang hangs his portraits for a exhibition in Taoyuan.  (Wally Santana / Associated Press)

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Tou identifies dogs on a manifest that are to be put down later that day at a government-run shelter in Taoyuan.  (Wally Santana / Associated Press)

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A dog at the shelter  (Wally Santana / Associated Press)

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A dog is taken to be euthanized by lethal injection.  (Wally Santana / Associated Press)

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The leashes of dogs put down that day hang from a metal fence at the shelter.  (Wally Santana / Associated Press)

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A nurse prepares the room used to euthanize dogs.  (Wally Santana / Associated Press)

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A dog sits in a cage before he is put down.  (Wally Santana / Associated Press)

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Government workers catch a dog on the streets of Taoyuan.  (Wally Santana / Associated Press)

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