February 13, 2009 Categories: Mailbox
Recent media coverage of DBKL’s Setapak pound has put animal cruelty in the spotlight again.
A manual, Humane Management of Stray Animals Guidelines, issued by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), exists as a yardstick for all municipal councils in relation to the catching, transportation, housing and the killing of animals.
It also sets standards for the quality of staff at such facilities.
I would like to highlight one neglected aspect in the management of stray animals: the guidelines on bounty hunters. What is the basis for their selection and are there guidelines covering their activities?
The monetary incentive for setting up such a company is sinfully attractive, with many municipals reportedly paying them between RM30 - RM45 per dog. A number of reported cases illustrate some disturbing practices:
● In September 2008, a licensed dog named Turbo was kidnapped from inside the gated compound of a house in Sepang. The Jack-Russell Terrier was reported to be abducted by Sepang Municipal Council dog catchers. Based on a neighbour’s account, one of the men lured Turbo to the fence, while the other climbed over the fence, grabbed him and subsequently passed Turbo to his accomplice. The men then beat the dog with the butt of the weapon to silence him. The dog was returned dead when the owner managed to track down the contract bounty hunter.
● In November 2008, Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) dog catchers caught a stray dog and dragged it through a house gate. A witness said the dog had been beaten by the dog catchers, dragged through a five-inch gap in the gate, and taken to the MPSJ dog pound in Puchong, where it was not treated for its injuries. Animal rescuers paid the compound, removed the dog and sent it to the vet for treatment the next day.
● In November 2008, another pet owner lodged a report with SPCA, alleging that Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) dog catchers had trespassed into her home and dragged her dog from underneath the main gate. Attempts were made to locate the dog which was not taken to the PAWS Animal Shelter, but held by the MBSA and put to sleep three days later. The owner and an SPCA inspector arrived during the destruction process, and were literally minutes too late to save the dog. The distraught owner made a police report after leaving the pound.
With the lucrative income at stake, it is tempting for these bounty hunters to resort to illegal means. It is easy for them to say that the dog is not licensed to justify their actions.
What is there to stop them from flouting the laws and breaking into homes?
The task of nabbing strays should be given to non-profit NGOs such as the SPCA, so that we can be assured that animals are afforded their basic rights. Having said that, what followup has there been on the above cases? It has been months. Are the local councils still investigating whilst waiting for the news to die down before the atrocity starts again?
A bit of accountability to the tax paying public would be most gratifying.
Chin Siew Yoong
Kuala Lumpur
This article was taken from: The malay mail: mailbox 13 february 2009
Recent media coverage of DBKL’s Setapak pound has put animal cruelty in the spotlight again.A manual, Humane Management of Stray Animals Guidelines, issued by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), exists as a yardstick for all municipal councils in relation to the catching, transportation, housing and the killing of animals.
It also sets standards for the quality of staff at such facilities.
I would like to highlight one neglected aspect in the management of stray animals: the guidelines on bounty hunters. What is the basis for their selection and are there guidelines covering their activities?
The monetary incentive for setting up such a company is sinfully attractive, with many municipals reportedly paying them between RM30 - RM45 per dog. A number of reported cases illustrate some disturbing practices:
● In September 2008, a licensed dog named Turbo was kidnapped from inside the gated compound of a house in Sepang. The Jack-Russell Terrier was reported to be abducted by Sepang Municipal Council dog catchers. Based on a neighbour’s account, one of the men lured Turbo to the fence, while the other climbed over the fence, grabbed him and subsequently passed Turbo to his accomplice. The men then beat the dog with the butt of the weapon to silence him. The dog was returned dead when the owner managed to track down the contract bounty hunter.
● In November 2008, Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) dog catchers caught a stray dog and dragged it through a house gate. A witness said the dog had been beaten by the dog catchers, dragged through a five-inch gap in the gate, and taken to the MPSJ dog pound in Puchong, where it was not treated for its injuries. Animal rescuers paid the compound, removed the dog and sent it to the vet for treatment the next day.
● In November 2008, another pet owner lodged a report with SPCA, alleging that Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) dog catchers had trespassed into her home and dragged her dog from underneath the main gate. Attempts were made to locate the dog which was not taken to the PAWS Animal Shelter, but held by the MBSA and put to sleep three days later. The owner and an SPCA inspector arrived during the destruction process, and were literally minutes too late to save the dog. The distraught owner made a police report after leaving the pound.
With the lucrative income at stake, it is tempting for these bounty hunters to resort to illegal means. It is easy for them to say that the dog is not licensed to justify their actions.
What is there to stop them from flouting the laws and breaking into homes?
The task of nabbing strays should be given to non-profit NGOs such as the SPCA, so that we can be assured that animals are afforded their basic rights. Having said that, what followup has there been on the above cases? It has been months. Are the local councils still investigating whilst waiting for the news to die down before the atrocity starts again?
A bit of accountability to the tax paying public would be most gratifying.
Chin Siew Yoong
Kuala Lumpur
This article was taken from: The malay mail: mailbox 13 february 2009
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