(MY) unreasonable regulations on dogs

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Unreasonable MBSA regulations on dogs - Malysiakini on line

Residents of Shah Alam

Dec 28, 05 7:33pm

 

 

The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) has made a New Year resolution that

will have a profound effect on Shah Alam residents. Come Jan 1, the

council will be enforcing new regulations which actively discourage

animal lovers residing in Shah Alam from sharing their homes with

their pet dogs.

 

The new regulations will effectively make it difficult, if not

impossible, for the majority of Shah Alam households to get an annual

dog licence. As residents of Shah Alam who are affected by the new

regulations, we, the undersigned, are of the opinion that the

conditions to be imposed are most unreasonable and unacceptable.

 

For a start, dog licences will be issued only to corner link and

semi-detached houses and bungalows. Dogs will be banned from

intermediate link houses. Just think how many of us can afford a

corner or semi-detached house or bungalow?

 

MBSA also requires all dog licence applicants to have the written

consent of neighbours who shall agree to bear all the risks of any

problems caused by the dog. Why should the neighbours

be held responsible for something beyond their control? This is most illogical.

 

In addition, MBSA will also enforce other control measures such as

banning certain breeds perceived to be a threat to public safety,

including the Rottweiler and having a cage to house the dog which must

now be leashed and muzzled when taken out of the owner's premises.

 

At the same time, MBSA will not allow dogs to be brought to public

places. The city council seems to ignore the fact that it is quite

common for owners to keep their pets indoors and therefore won't have

any use for a cage. Even when kept outdoors, there are normally many

areas in the house which will provide suitable shelters for them.

 

On the contrary, when in the hands of an irresponsible owner, a dog

cage can lead to animal cruelty and abuse. Such an owner has a

tendency to keep his dog in the cage for long periods, depriving it of

exercise and sometimes even denying the animal access to fresh water.

Also, it is likely that the cage will be dirty, smelly and unhygienic

due to the owner's neglect.

 

The new regulations, we believe, are totally inconsistent with PM Pak

Lah's efforts to create a harmonious and caring society that is

respectful of each others needs, and this has seen positive response

from most Malaysians. Indeed, MBSA should respect our basic human

right to own

a pet be it a cat, rabbit or dog.

 

The new MBSA regulations appear to be based on the assumption that

dogs are dangerous to the public and a nuisance. Just like in any

group, there are always the rotten apples among them, but then what

about the numerous documented cases of dogs enriching the lives of

people, including the lonely, the old and the physically and mentally

challenged?

 

Surely all of us can recall how rescue dogs searched for people

trapped in rubble in the aftermath of the recent earthquake that

devastated Pakistan. How quickly the victims were found and rescued

determined whether they would live or die. Recent research discovered

that dogs even have the ability to detect cancer and other medical

conditions.

 

With the new regulations, it would appear that the majority of dog

owners will become unwitting victims on account of the misdeeds of a

few irresponsible owners. Indeed, MBSA should come down hard on these

offenders instead of making things difficult for responsible owners

which

indirectly penalise the innocent animals. Like they say, if a child

has bad manners, it is the fault of his parents.

 

Indeed, as the city's administrators, MBSA has the responsibility to

issue clear guidelines on the dos and don'ts aimed at educating the

residents on how to be responsible dog owners. Stiff penalties and

other punitive actions will then be justified when dog owners are

still found to be indifferent.

 

In the spirit of giving associated with the Christmas season and New

Year, it is ironic that MBSA has chosen such a " gift " to residents of

Shah Alam. We sincerely urge MBSA to immediately postpone the

enforcement until such time when a new set of regulations is

formulated with due input from the Veterinary Services Department and

the various animal interest groups, so that it will be fair and

acceptable to the majority of Shah Alam residents.

 

The above letter came with 34 signatures attached.