Monday, February 23, 2009
Article: Pets More plans 10 new outlets in Klang Valley
By EILEEN HEE
The pet business is booming as more people cash in on the awareness that pets are worth spoiling too.
“Pets are not just pets anymore. These days, many people treat their pets like children and are willing to pay top dollars for their upkeep,” Pets More Sdn Bhd general manager Sean Saw tells StarBizWeek.
As such, most products that people want for themselves, they will want for their pets, he points out.
“Just look at recent trends in the pet industry like organic food, homeopathic products, luxury accessories and you will find they mirror counterparts for human folk,” he says, adding that focus these days is on pet accessories, furniture, carrying bags and clothing.
Pets More was established in January 2004 by Chin Kong Han who started managing a traditional pet shop in 1988.
“When the second generation of the family took over the business, we rebranded the company,” Saw says.
At present, there are 10 Pets More outlets located in the Klang Valley. Typically, each outlet involves an investment of RM350,000 to RM600,000.
Plans are in the pipeline to have another 10 outlets by next year, Saw says.
He says the company is also considering expanding to locations outside the Klang Valley to cater to pet lovers who do not have access to such pet shops.
“There is a lot of potential in the pet business. Competition is minimal as our concept is different. We do not just sell products and pets, we make sure our customers are well-educated in pet care.
“We also have an in-house grooming service for customers who want to keep their pets in a tiptop condition at all times,” says Saw.
Pets More offers pet boarding and taxi as well as delivery services.
It has also embarked on an online business. The company’s website attracts 10,000 visitors every day, of which 40% are from overseas.
“We are the only pet shop that sells live pets online,” Saw says.
He says the business is aimed at making quality pets available to the consumers.
Besides that, Pets More markets products such as pet food, equipment and accessories.
The pets include dogs, cats, tortoises, hamsters and rabbits.
Saw does not expect the slowing economy to dampen the company’s sales or hurt its bottom line.
“Regardless of the state of the economy, pet owners will spend,” he says, adding the Malaysian pet market differs from that of in the US.
“In the US, eight in 10 households have pets. And each household has seven or eight pets. In Malaysia, three in 10 households have pets and these households are mainly in the middle-upper income range,” he says.
Saw says the company has been experiencing a 40% year-on-year sales growth since it opened its doors.
“We are still expanding despite the economic crisis,” he says, adding that another four Pets More outlets are slated to open this year.
“We are opening one in Wangsa Walk in July and another in Subang Empire in September,” he says. The locations for the other two outlets have not been finalised.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Article: Cowherd Sees Red Over Painted Cow
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This article was taken from: The Star Newspaper: Nation N25, 21st February 2009.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
TV3 Program 360 Investigates Allegations of Animal Cruelty at Setapak DBKL Pound
Part 1
The 360 Degrees crew investigate the reports made by witnesses about the cruel killings of stray dogs by strangulation and cats by drowning at the local authorities pound. One witness, Suraya, claims that she witnessed cats being drowned to death. If the cats were still alive after the drowning, they'd beat the cats to death. Another witness, Chan, claimed that the dogs were being strangled until their necks were broken rather than being euthanised humanely.
Part 2
This part talks about 2 viewers who are cat lovers and their views and suggestions to the public and to the government. They also express their feelings of sympathy for the cruelty towards stray animals.
Part 3
The public and animal activist hold a protest outside DBKL Setapak and question the person in charge about the allegations.
Part 4
Most questions remain unanswered and people are suspicious. The person in charge has said that he will run a thorough investigation and get to the bottom of this matter.
These videos were taken from: YouTube
The 360 Degrees crew investigate the reports made by witnesses about the cruel killings of stray dogs by strangulation and cats by drowning at the local authorities pound. One witness, Suraya, claims that she witnessed cats being drowned to death. If the cats were still alive after the drowning, they'd beat the cats to death. Another witness, Chan, claimed that the dogs were being strangled until their necks were broken rather than being euthanised humanely.
Part 2
This part talks about 2 viewers who are cat lovers and their views and suggestions to the public and to the government. They also express their feelings of sympathy for the cruelty towards stray animals.
Part 3
The public and animal activist hold a protest outside DBKL Setapak and question the person in charge about the allegations.
Part 4
Most questions remain unanswered and people are suspicious. The person in charge has said that he will run a thorough investigation and get to the bottom of this matter.
These videos were taken from: YouTube
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Article: Baby Turtles Make Ox-Picious Appearance
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This article was taken from: The Star Online: News: Nation Page 19, 3 February 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
SMS Your Views
Poultry licence?
First dog owner must have licence to keep their dog. Now cat owner. What’s next, MPN? Licence for goat and chicken? – Hardi
This was taken from: The Star Online: News: Opinion 3 February 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Article: Now, Nilai council may impose licensing for cats
By SARBAN SINGH
SEREMBAN: Cat owners living in parts of Seremban and eight other sub-districts will be required to license them if authorities continue to get complaints that the felines are becoming a nuisance to neighbours.
Nilai Municipal Council (MPN) president Datuk Abd Halim Abd Latif said although there were no laws stating how many cats a person could own, it would have no qualms in formulating new legislation for it.
“We know some families keep too many cats and this has become a nuisance to their neighbours,” he said.
“If we get more complaints on this, we will not hesitate to introduce new provisions in our by-laws requiring them to license their cats.”
If implemented, the MPN would be the first local council in the country to have such a provision in their by-laws.
Abd Halim was commenting on complaints from residents on a new law requiring dog owners to get their neighbours’ written permission before they were allowed to keep them.
MPN had gazetted the new law – Dog Licensing By-laws 2008 – which came into force last month.
Those living in areas under the jurisdiction of the council such as parts of Rasah, Ampangan, Mantin, Nilai, Lenggeng, Pantai, Rantau, Labu and Senawang were affected by the move.
The MPN said those caught contravening provisions under the by-law can be fined up to RM1,000 or imprisoned for not more than six months or both.
Several residents’ associations had voiced displeasure over the new ruling as it was discriminatory because it only targeted dog owners.
Many felt there were residents who had up to 10 cats which caused them misery.
Asked how were neighbours who wished to own dogs were to get their neighbours’ written permission when they were not on talking terms, Abd Latif said they could always ap- proach the council and it would act as an intermediary to get the approval.
Asked whether the ruling on dog ownership would be extended to those living in the Seremban Municipal Council (MPS), Abd Latif said this would be possible after a merger between MPN and MPS takes place.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Nation 2 February 2009
Article: Probe into whale and shark killings
KOTA KINABALU: The state has ordered the Fisheries Department to investigate claims that whales and sharks are being killed and processed at Mabul Island – which is next to the world-renowned diving paradise Sipidan Island.
That is the question state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjum wants answered quickly.
He is asking the state Fisheries Department and the Semporna district office to check out the alleged activities which he said would tarnish the state’s tourism industry.
Masidi said yesterday that Pulau Mabul, which also housed a number of resorts catering to tourists heading to Pulau Sipadan, was not within the jurisdiction of the Sabah Parks, an agency under his ministry.
“Nature lovers and global conservation community are fast becoming very influential lobbyists whose actions could hurt the state’s tourism industry in the long run if they decide a boycott Sabah to protest against activities perceived to be cruel to whales and sharks.”
He said: “Any small mistake or perceived inaction could have a major repercussion on the tourism industry.”
Masidi also called for more coordination among the various law enforcement agencies to curb illegal activities in Sabah waters such as fish bombing.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Nation 1 February 2009
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