Dogs - love or hate them

Capturing and killing strays on the spot inhumane, should not have happened



A RECENT video clip that portrayed several men from the Kulim Municipal Council (MPKK) rounding up and killing several stray dogs has went viral on social media recently.

The incident which allegedly took place in Taman Perak or Taman Sawi in Kulim, Kedah saw several men using two-pronged metal rods to hold the strays in place despite the animal’s cries of pain.

Facebook user Jagathiswran a/l Eelangovan who posted the video questioned the officers’ actions, claiming that only dogs were killed while snakes, tigers, monitor lizards and bears were caught and released back into the jungle.

“We have been seeing the same thing happening for more than 20 years. What have the dogs done wrong to deserve such treatment? They did not go into our houses to steal money or food, nor did they kill anyone or steal cars or use drugs,” he wrote.

According to another Facebook user who claimed to be Jagathiswran’s sister, Jagathiswran had tried to stop the officers from killing the dogs but was rudely brushed aside. In fact, an officer even told them, “Saya tau nak buat kerja saya, you jangan masuk campur!” (Don’t get in my way, I know how to do my job!”

Commenting on this incident, Malaysian Animal Welfare Association (MAWA) founder Mukunnan Sugumaran said that the incident should not have happened at all.

According to Mukunnan, a similar incident had happened in Seremban a few years ago, where the Seremban City Council used to capture dogs and put them to sleep on the spot.

“The act of putting them to sleep on the spot is not acceptable. The Government has pounds where they are supposed to hold the dogs for a specific period of time before they can take further action,” Mukunnan told FocusM.

“Killing them on the spot is not advisable simply because this is something that can be seen by children, and it can be a traumatising sight. Why is MPKK not working with local shelters in the district to come up with more humane ways of dealing with this matter?”

While numerous animal shelters around the country are currently bogged down with financial problems, Mukunnan went on to reassure the public that they would still be happy to find ways to support and help the stray dogs.

“So work with us, and work with the shelters to come up with more humane solutions because catching the strays and putting them to sleep on the spot isn’t the right answer.” – July 9, 2021

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Cameron Highlands District Council hauled to court over stray dog bounty

An animal activist has filed a legal challenge against the Cameron Highlands District Council’s (MDCH) bounty of RM40 per stray dog captured by the public and handed to it.

Malaysia Independent Animal Rescue (Miar) founder T Puspa Rani filed the judicial review leave application at the Temerloh High Court in Pahang on April 25.

Filed on her behalf by law firm Messrs Raj & Sach, the legal action listed the local council as the respondent.

According to cause papers sighted by Malaysiakini today, she is targeting the council’s decision on Jan 27 to launch the project titled Program Penjana Pendapatan Semasa PKP; Iklan Bagi Penangkapan Anjing Liar di Kawasan Pentadbiran MDCH (Programme to Generate Income During MCO; Advertisement for the Capture of Stray Dogs in the Administrative Area of MDCH).

Puspa contends that this reason for the proposed acquisition goes against the law and was made with malicious intent and abuse of power by the respondent.

Among the reliefs she is seeking is for a certiorari order to quash the council’s Jan 27 decision and a prohibitory order to prevent the respondent from launching the project that ignores the fundamental rights of animals and endangering them.

She seeks a mandamus order for the council to release animals captured and kept by it, to the Animal Rights Society without harming the animals.

She also seeks a court order for the council to pay the Animal Rights Society damages for any injury suffered by the animals captured and kept in relation to the project, for rehabilitation and medical purposes.

When contacted by Malaysiakini, Puspa confirmed having filed the judicial review leave application through the law firm.

Her counsel Rajesh Nagarajan also confirmed the legal action, adding that there is a danger of even pet dogs being “dognapped” for the RM40 offered by the project.

“It is undeniable that dogs caught by members of the public will inevitably be subjected to abuse contrary to the Animal Welfare Act 2015.

“In an attempt to get more money, it is foreseeable that even pet dogs may be dognapped for the RM40 reward.

“The purpose of the judicial review (leave) application is to prevent such harm from befalling the stray dogs and pet dogs in Cameron Highlands,” he said.

The lawyer added that the cause papers have been served on the council and that the matter is set for hearing before the Temerloh High Court on July 14.

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kt notes:

2 almost similar but in reality, vastly different scenarios.

In Kulim, strays were killed in public, an unpleasant scenario for the rakyat especially young citizens.

Indeed, the question of only dogs being killed while snakes, tigers, monitor lizards and bears were caught and released back into the jungle is a worthwhile query. And what about stray cats?

But whatever the answer may be, it's not advisable to kill dogs in public. I was under the impression we stopped such a practice years back due to the horrendous blood-spectacle and the danger of inadvertently harming some unfortunate members of the general public.

It's now obvious I have been mistaken or overtaken by changes in such rules and procedures. Or, perhaps in Kedah under the VELL-y FIRE-y state MB, public "service"(?) is more aggressively pursued (as in chopping down century old trees).

Meanwhile in the Cameron Highlands, the issue poses some danger to pet dogs as bounty hunters may turn out to be mercenary and less scrupulous.