(MY) - licensing regulations for dogs

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Shah Alam's controversial dog licensing regulations: - The Malay Mail

Council willing to meet owners over new rules

HALIM SAID

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16

--

 

The Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) is willing to meet with the

Malaysian Association of Responsible Pet Ownership (Marpo) after the

association 'refused' to attend an earlier meeting set for last

Thursday.

 

Shah Alam Deputy Mayor Za'ba Che Rus said the council had invited the

association and other relevant authorities to attend a discussion on

the city's dog licensing regulations at a council meeting last

Thursday.

 

" There was no representative from Marpo at the meeting. Although an

invitation had been sent to them, we were blamed and accused for not

inviting them, " he said yesterday.

 

" We will set up another meeting as we are willing to compromise. "

 

Za'ba also denied that Shah Alam mayor Datuk Ramli Mahmud, who is

currently in Mecca, received a memorandum from the association which

they claimed was sent last week.

 

He was commenting on the Sunday Mail report yesterday concerning

Marpo's protest on MBSA's dog licensing regulations enforced from Jan

1.

 

Marpo had chided the regulations as being based on " fear and ignorance

and missing out on facts " .

 

" What Marpo needs to do now is to discuss issues relating to the dog

licensing regulations with us at the next meeting, " said Za'ba.

 

He said dog owners will now have to pay RM60 annually for the licence,

which includes the dog collar-tag and processing fees.

 

" The dog licence remains at RM10. The additional RM50 is to cover the

cost of a dog's licence embedded on the collar-tag, and the processing

fees, " said Za'ba.

 

He also clarified that getting 'permission' from neighbours before

obtaining the licence was not true.

 

" The exercise is not to get the neighbours' consent but listening to

their neighbours' views before MBSA can issue a licence to the dog

owner, " said Za'ba.

 

He said the owner will have to ensure that the dog will not create a

nuisance such as excruciating noise (barking) and wandering around

unattended.

 

Za'ba said MBSA never had the intention of depriving Marpo from

voicing out its dissatisfaction.

 

" We are trying to do what is best for the Shah Alam community as a

whole. Such a protest (by Marpo) should not recur as the matter can be

discussed, " he said.

 

Za'ba said the new meeting date will be determined soon.