Wednesday, September 24, 2008
More Media Coverage
This one is taken from Staronline:
Thursday May 8, 2008
Selangor state government wants more humane treatment of animals
By WANI MUTHIAH
metro@thestar.com.my
THE Selangor state government is reviewing the methods used by the district and municipal councils in catching stray dogs.
According to state local government committee chairman Ronnie Liu, the state government wants to ensure that only ethical and humane methods would be employed in the treatment of the dogs.
Liu said that measures would also be taken to prevent the number of strays from increasing.
“We will set up a committee comprising animal rescuers and dog lovers to tell us how we can do this without subjecting the dogs to inhumane treatment,’’ he said.
The municipal councils in the state are known to have embarked on methods deemed cruel by animal lovers.
Last year, the Selayang Municipal Council organised a dog-catching competition which caused an uproar among the public.
The grisly competition was scrapped after dog lovers and animal activists cried foul and protested vehemently against it.
In Klang, stray dogs that were caught are usually left without food and water in the dog-catchers’ lorries for days before being put to sleep.
Dog-catchers are also not properly trained and still use the outdated wire loops, which causes injuries to the animals.
Some local councils have also hired canine bounty hunters to capture stray dogs and paid them according to the number of dogs caught, giving rise to the cruel hauling in of stray dogs.
Liu said he would also look into the setting-up of a centre for animal owners and rescuers to take dogs and cats to for treatment.
He would also be looking into the possibility of setting up a shelter for dogs brought in by district and municipal dog catching teams.
Liu acknowledged that catching stray dogs and destroying them was not the answer to curb the stray dog problem.
“The right way would be for dog owners to ensure that their dogs do not reproduce,’’ he said.
He said the onus was on owners to restrict their dogs from straying as well as not abandoning their pets according to their whims and fancies.
Liu said dogs were in a precarious situation because they were misunderstood by certain quarters.
He said there was a need to create a platform for dog lovers as well as those who do not like dogs to understand each other.
“Those who do not like dogs must learn why some people are diehard dog lovers. Staunch dog lovers, on the other hand, must know why some people don’t like dogs,’’ Liu said.
He said that he would also look into some local council by-laws requiring potential dog owners to seek permission from their neighbours before acquiring canines.
Meanwhile, Sabrina Yeap, the founder of the Furry Friends Farm, a sanctuary for stray dogs, welcomed Liu’s statement and said it was timely.
“It would be great if there is a state-owned and operated shelter and spaying centre in Selangor,’’ Yeap said.
She said a shelter was necessary for stray dogs, which had been nurtured and spayed while awaiting adoption or transfer to other shelters.
She said Liu could work together with existing private shelters as well as animal rescue groups to train those manning the spaying centre and shelter.
“Organisations such as the Furry Friends Farm can help the councils conduct such courses for their workers,’’ Yeap said.
Thursday May 8, 2008
Selangor state government wants more humane treatment of animals
By WANI MUTHIAH
metro@thestar.com.my
THE Selangor state government is reviewing the methods used by the district and municipal councils in catching stray dogs.
According to state local government committee chairman Ronnie Liu, the state government wants to ensure that only ethical and humane methods would be employed in the treatment of the dogs.
Liu said that measures would also be taken to prevent the number of strays from increasing.
“We will set up a committee comprising animal rescuers and dog lovers to tell us how we can do this without subjecting the dogs to inhumane treatment,’’ he said.
The municipal councils in the state are known to have embarked on methods deemed cruel by animal lovers.
Last year, the Selayang Municipal Council organised a dog-catching competition which caused an uproar among the public.
The grisly competition was scrapped after dog lovers and animal activists cried foul and protested vehemently against it.
In Klang, stray dogs that were caught are usually left without food and water in the dog-catchers’ lorries for days before being put to sleep.
Dog-catchers are also not properly trained and still use the outdated wire loops, which causes injuries to the animals.
Some local councils have also hired canine bounty hunters to capture stray dogs and paid them according to the number of dogs caught, giving rise to the cruel hauling in of stray dogs.
Liu said he would also look into the setting-up of a centre for animal owners and rescuers to take dogs and cats to for treatment.
He would also be looking into the possibility of setting up a shelter for dogs brought in by district and municipal dog catching teams.
Liu acknowledged that catching stray dogs and destroying them was not the answer to curb the stray dog problem.
“The right way would be for dog owners to ensure that their dogs do not reproduce,’’ he said.
He said the onus was on owners to restrict their dogs from straying as well as not abandoning their pets according to their whims and fancies.
Liu said dogs were in a precarious situation because they were misunderstood by certain quarters.
He said there was a need to create a platform for dog lovers as well as those who do not like dogs to understand each other.
“Those who do not like dogs must learn why some people are diehard dog lovers. Staunch dog lovers, on the other hand, must know why some people don’t like dogs,’’ Liu said.
He said that he would also look into some local council by-laws requiring potential dog owners to seek permission from their neighbours before acquiring canines.
Meanwhile, Sabrina Yeap, the founder of the Furry Friends Farm, a sanctuary for stray dogs, welcomed Liu’s statement and said it was timely.
“It would be great if there is a state-owned and operated shelter and spaying centre in Selangor,’’ Yeap said.
She said a shelter was necessary for stray dogs, which had been nurtured and spayed while awaiting adoption or transfer to other shelters.
She said Liu could work together with existing private shelters as well as animal rescue groups to train those manning the spaying centre and shelter.
“Organisations such as the Furry Friends Farm can help the councils conduct such courses for their workers,’’ Yeap said.
Turbo - a small dog with big personality
To All Humanitarians,
If you are like me, and believe that life is the most precious
treasure not just to man, but to his best friend, then please
listen to Turbo’s story. On the 18th of September 2008,
my licensed dog (Turbo) was kidnapped from inside the
gated compound of my house by two men with a parang
like object. My neighbour, an eyewitness to the following
travesty, recounted to me how this was done the
following day. One of the men lured Turbo to the fence,
while the other climbedover the fence, grabbed him, and
subsequently passed Turbo to his accomplice. The men then beat
Turbo with the butt of the weapon to silence him, successfully
knocking him unconscious, or dead.
Before we realised that Turbo was dognapped, we thought
that he was simply missing, so we searched my housing area
till 1am the same day, but to no avail. The following morning,
I called the local council and was notified that my dog had been
caught by private dog catchers contracted by the Council.
I contacted the private dog catcher directly, whereupon
I was told that Turbo had died in a dog fight.
If you are like me, and believe that life is the most precious
treasure not just to man, but to his best friend, then please
listen to Turbo’s story. On the 18th of September 2008,
my licensed dog (Turbo) was kidnapped from inside the
gated compound of my house by two men with a parang
like object. My neighbour, an eyewitness to the following
travesty, recounted to me how this was done the
following day. One of the men lured Turbo to the fence,
while the other climbedover the fence, grabbed him, and
subsequently passed Turbo to his accomplice. The men then beat
Turbo with the butt of the weapon to silence him, successfully
knocking him unconscious, or dead.
Before we realised that Turbo was dognapped, we thought
that he was simply missing, so we searched my housing area
till 1am the same day, but to no avail. The following morning,
I called the local council and was notified that my dog had been
caught by private dog catchers contracted by the Council.
I contacted the private dog catcher directly, whereupon
I was told that Turbo had died in a dog fight.
When the dog catcher gave me Turbo’s dead body back, I inspected it for
scratches or bites, but there was none. Our suspicions that
something wasn't quite right, was corroborated when my
neighbour later told me what he had witnessed. After a little
investigation into the private contractor, we found that this
company Vet-Fine (M) Sdn Bhd has all dog catching contracts
with all local councils.
You don’t have to have a pet, or even to love animals to
hear my words. If you are simply a decent human being,
with an appreciation for life and all that it encompasses, then
please, please help me. I am appealing to all humanitarians,
good Samaritans and anybody with a conscience and an
inkling of civic duty and morality: we have to stop these
contract killings. For each dog, these dog catchers received
payment from the local councils. It's questionable whether
these private contractors are properly certified or trained on
procedures with regards to dealing with stray animals, and
as such, making a quick buck is put above treating these
animals humanely.
I am calling on all councils to review your contracts with
these dog catchers – please, don’t reward savage behaviour.
These ‘rewards’just encourage them to flout the laws and steal
licensed dogs from their rightful owners, just to
turn a quick profit. This is wrong, unjust and criminal.
This task should be given to non-profit NGOs such
as the SPCA so that we can ensure that animals are
afforded their basic rights.
I appeal to all of you out there to stand up, and
lodge your complaint to protest this behaviour.
Spread the word that nobody has the right
to end another’s life, not on a whim, and not for
monetary incentives.
This contract killing has to STOP.
If you value life, speak up today, and give a voice to
those who don’t have one.
Sincerely,
Alvin & Turbo Vong
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