Guest guest Posted January 12, 2006 Report Share Posted January 12, 2006 Dog owners unlikely to 'bark' at MBSA meeting - Malaysiakini on line Fauwaz Abdul Aziz Jan 11, 06 7:12pm The warnings from Shah Alam dog owners that they would boycott a crucial city council committee meeting tomorrow to scrutinise its controversial dog-licensing regulations has prompted the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) to urge them otherwise. DVS deputy director-general II Dr Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin warned that any move to snub the meeting with the Shah Alam city council (MBSA) and other government officials would be to the dog owners' own loss. " If they boycott, there would be less people. If (MBSA) makes a decision, habis (it's over!). The council can easily make a decision without the presence of these people. They must attend, " said Abdul Aziz when contacted. Saying he was just as concerned over the controversial regulations, Abdul Aziz added that the issue could be resolved if those who were invited worked together with the authorities. " We will definitely have to work (together). I don't think it's that complicated an issue. Ask them to attend and speak the truth, " he said. Abdul Aziz was responding to talks that Shah Alam residents and their representatives would boycott a meeting scheduled tomorrow that is meant to peruse dog license regulations detractors say infringe on their rights by making it harder to obtain dog licenses. Rottweiler an issue Among the new controversial requirements in the pipeline is for owners to obtain permission from their immediate neighbours. Another regulation which has got dog lovers howling in protest is the inclusion of the Rottweiler as one of the eight 'prohibited' breeds. At a meeting last night, dog owners agreed that their representatives who are on the committee to scrutinise the regulations would not attend the meeting as the council did not seem willing to compromise. Anthony Thanasayan, who heads the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association (Petpositive), said this was reflected in the lop-sided composition of the committee. " Because of the composition of the people who have been invited, there are more of 'their people', non-dog owners, than dog owners, " said Thanasayan. He also said that the council had not sought the adequate participation of those who trained dogs for the disabled, while completely ignoring owners of Rottweilers. " There are no Rottweiler owners who are going to be present, and they are talking about the banning of Rottweilers. Neither have they invited Chong Mun Lin, the representative of Shah Alam dog owners, " said Thanasayan. Francis Siva, who presides over the Independent Living and Training Centre (ILTC), said although he was appointed by MBSA to be on the committee, he has yet to decide whether he would attend tomorrow's meeting. However, Malaysian Association for Responsible Pet Ownership (Marpo) pro tem president Dr Jon S Satyamoorthy said he would not be attending the meeting as the council did not seem willing to compromise. Another protest " In their faxed invitation, they sent the programme for tomorrow's meeting, and it's basically a list of those things that had already been discussed in the dialogue on Dec 20 last year, " said Dr Jon. He was referring to the discussion held less than three weeks ago between dog owners and Shah Alam deputy mayor Za'ba Che Rus over the dog-licensing regulations, which detractors said had been a futile exercise. Instead, said Dr Jon, dog owners would be holding their own protest on Saturday morning in Shah Alam before handing over a letter on the matter to the Selangor menteri besar at his office. Following a protest-gathering and meeting with dog owners last month, Za'ba granted that those who had dogs but had yet to acquire licenses because they did not fulfill all the conditions can apply for the permits until March this year. " If there are a lot of applications (for new dog licences) ... we can, at the latest, issue (all) licences by February or March. For those who we have not been issued licences, we will not take action (against them), " he said. He stressed, however, that the council has no plans to scrap the regulations completely. --\ -- Rottweiler not banned breed - Straits Times Neville Spykerman SHAH ALAM, Jan 11: -- The Rottweiler is not a banned breed, said the Veterinary Services Department today. This contradicts the labelling by the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) that they are. A department veterinarian said the Rottweilers are known for their steadfast loyalty and are used by the Malaysian police and law enforcement agencies around the world. " There is no move to review the status of Rottweilers, " she said. The MBSA has come under fire for introducing new regulations that restrict dog ownership in Shah Alam. Among them was labelling Rottweilers as a banned breed. The Malaysian Association for Responsible Pet Ownership (Marpo) claimed today that MBSA had not only erred in denying dog owners the right to keep Rottweilers as pets but had also exceeded its powers in labelling them as a banned breed. Its pro-tem president Dr Jon Satyamoorthy, a veterinarian, said MBSA should have checked the facts with the department. He said a simple check with the department's website would show that Rottweilers were not a breed banned in Malaysia but a restricted breed for import. " The ban is a dangerous precedent as MBSA is acting arbitrarily and has now assumed expertise on dog breeds, " he said. Dr Satyamoorthy said the move to ban Rottweilers, along with other restrictions on dog ownership, such as obtaining consent from neighbours, had raised apprehensions among dog owners not only in Shah Alam but nationwide. " Many responsible dogs owners feel that their right to keep dogs as pets is gradually being eroded by these restrictions. " Dr Satyamoorthy said MBSA should suspend their new regulations and re-examine them. The new regulations on dog ownership in Shah Alam were scheduled to take effect on Jan 1, but dog owners have been urging MBSA to review the regulations. Among the new regulations is that dog licences will be issued only to corner-link and semi-detached houses and bungalows. Dogs will be banned from intermediate link houses. MBSA also requires all dog-licence applicants to have the written consent of neighbours, who shall agree to bear the risks of any problems caused by the animals. A dialogue between MBSA and Marpo was held but the association described it as " fruitless " . A peaceful protest was held by dog owners outside the city council building on Dec 30. Marpo is waiting to meet MBSA Datuk Bandar Datuk Rahim Mahmud when he returns from the Haj in the next few weeks. --\ --- Harsher penalties likely for errant dog owners - Malay Mail SHAMILA BILLOT KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 12: -- Irresponsible dog owners will face stricter penalties once amendment to several laws are carried out. " We have been in serious discussion with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and have submitted a joint memorandum from Animal Welfare, Malaysian Kennel Association (MKA), Paws Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), PetsUnite, Bivai Special Dogs, and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to address the current dog ownership issues that have been debated by many Malaysians in the media and elsewhere, " said SPCA chairman Christine Chin. " They have taken into consideration most of our proposals in drafting the new law, especially against animal cruelty, " Chin said. " It seeks to penalise irresponsible pet owners and promote responsible pet ownership. We are also proposing that the abandoning of animals be considered a crime. " These days we get a lot of pets abandoned in the street by owners who suddenly decide not to care for them, " Chin said. " That's why we suggested that micro-chipping for all dogs should be made compulsory, so that the owners can be traced, and when the dogs go missing, they could be easily tracked down, " Chin said. --\ ------ Thursday January 12, 2006 - The Star Have tougher laws for dog owners WITH the Year of the Dog approaching, it is most heart-wrenching that more local councils are adopting a " hostile " attitude towards the keeping of dogs as pets. The Shah Alam Municipal Council is a classic example. Just because there are a few careless dog owners and a few isolated cases of dogs biting humans, the council is clamping down on all dog owners. The reasonable thing to do is to ensure owners are accountable for their pets. Make the bylaws for the keeping of pets very strict. When a dog owner applies for a licence he must be given a set of rules to study and a simple test to ensure he understands the bylaws. The bylaws must ensure that owners keep their dogs in a clean environment both for the dog and the people around it. The dog must be kept in a fenced compound or in the house and on a leash when being walked in public places. The dog's faeces when it is being walked must be picked up, neatly packed into a bag and disposed of in a rubbish bin at home. Noisy animals must be muzzled or muted by a veterinarian professionally. The dog must be given annual check-ups and a certificate of fitness by a vet before a licence can be issued. I recommend such tough bylaws because I do not want irresponsible dog owners to spoil the name of good dog owners. The idea of microchips being inserted into dogs is a great idea, too. VICTOR CHEW, Ipoh. --\ ---- Thursday January 12, 2006 - The Star Malaysia a difficult place to keep dogs I REFER to the letter, " Doggone licensing rules, " (The Star, Jan 10). Some months back, we read about the Shah Alam and Johor Baru municipal councils proposing a " get your neighbours " consent before one can keep a pet dog. Then in Ipoh, there was a reported case of a dog being shot dead despite being licensed and being within the house compound. And now to read the latest news that in Teluk Intan the licensing fee is up from RM5 to RM12 for pet dogs and limiting ownership to only two dogs, as well as the same " shoot-on-sight " ruling, I cannot help but agree with the writer that Malaysia is fast becoming a difficult place for dog lovers and dogs. In Singapore, when a pet owner pays a fee, the licence is for life and any missing pet, when found, can be traced by the licence number back to its owner. Well, a country's greatness can really be reflected only by the kindness of its government and people towards helpless animals. JAMES QIU, Penang. --\ --- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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