(MY) living with pets

[Guest guest]

Tuesday January 24, 2006 - The Star

 

Living with pets

 

The last 10 years have seen a string of controversy over the issue of

keeping pets in urban areas. It is sad to say that we have not

addressed these issues effectively.

 

This was a problem faced by many developed countries which have

consequently researched and implemented effective guidelines for

pet-keeping in urban areas.

 

Instead of re-inventing the wheel, we should learn from the mistakes

of others and implement some of these effective measures.

 

The recent controversy over the banning of Rottweillers and a

restricted guideline on dog-keeping in Shah Alam has upset many pet

owners.

 

In lieu of the current problems with the municipalities, the Malaysian

National Animal Welfare Foundation (MNAWF) approached the Housing and

Local Government Ministry and submitted a document entitled " Pets in

Urban Areas " as a guideline for urban pet-keeping.

 

This article focused on dogs and cats and did not include strays and

feral animals.

 

The rising controversy over pet ownership can be blamed on errant

owners who are poorly educated on the responsibilities of owning pets.

 

The number of pets has increased steadily in the last 30 years.

However, we lacking an accurate database as to the populace of animals

in urban areas.

 

Currently, microchipping has been introduced to ensure that a database

will be available in the near future. A national database can be

obtained by incorporating the number of pets in a household during the

population census.

 

People can derive great satisfaction and joy from their relationship

with their pets. These benefits are important to social development

and have not been widely understood locally.

 

For children the experience with pets contributes to their

development. Pets help them learn responsibility and teach them to

share.

 

Pets also help to foster family cohesion and in childless families,

they are often surrogates for children.

 

Pets are just as important for those who live alone, providing

companionship and promoting conversation with people in the street and

in neighbourhoods.

 

People also keep dogs for security.

 

In the realm of therapeutic medicine, nothing can heal a person

suffering from loneliness and depression more than companionship that

is unconditionally showered by pets.

 

Through some of our activities, MNAWF has found that with very few

exceptions, most elderly people have very close associations with

their pets.

 

Among the common problems identified by pet owners are excessive

barking, howling, caterwauling; biting and chewing; urinating or

defecating in inappropriate places; aggression towards people and

other pets; and hyperactivity.

 

In most cases these problems are a matter of degree, and we have clear

and practical solutions for each of them.

 

Most problems of pet ownership can be solved. At the forefront of work

by all parties interested in pets is the promotion of socially

responsible pet ownership.

 

MNAWF has taken a proactive role in promoting responsible pet

ownership. It provides specialised information on all types of pets

and distributes leaflets and posters on the caring of dogs and cats,

and responsible pet ownership, to councils, schools and veterinary

clinics.

 

MNAWF also holds talks in schools, and attends queries from the public

on the care, hygiene and nutrition of pets.

 

Pet-keeping in urban areas is part of urban progression and should be

developed to promote a socially responsible community.

 

MNAWF will keep working with the Housing and Local Government

Ministry, the local councils, Department of Veterinary Services,

Veterinary Association Malaysia and the Malaysian Small Animal

Veterinary Association to streamline a common acceptable standard

nationwide in the interest of man and animal.

 

For more information, please visit our website at www.mnawf.org.my.

 

Dr S. Sivagurunathan,

Deputy Chairman,

Malaysian National Animal Welfare Foundation

 

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Banning Rottweilers a waste of time - Malaysiakini.com

Toh Cheng See

Jan 23, 06 3:18pm

 

I refer to the recent Shah Alam municipal council's proposed ban on

Rottweilers that they foresee as being 'dangerous dogs'. If these dogs

are labeled as 'dangerous', well, here is the reality. They are not as

dangerous as speeding cars that causes accidents that kill, swimming

pools that are not properly managed which can cause unwanted

accidents, public ponds that can cause people to be electrocuted or

toys on which children can choke on.

 

When a dog bite occurs, the state municipalities jump on these

isolated cases to pass by-laws that causes stress to dog-owners. We

have not heard of these councils coming out with laws to close down

all public swimming pools nor do we hear of laws that ban small toys.

Passing these laws would be ludicrous. Similarly, banning a certain

breed of dog because of isolated cases of dog bites simply does not

make sense.

 

As a dog trainer that has undergone studies on dog behaviour, I firmly

believe that it is almost always it is the fault of the dog's owner

when a dog bites a human. Dogs that have been abused and are

'under-socialised' are more likely to bite then a dog that is

well-loved and 'well-socialised'. Therefore a ban on a whole breed is

simply a sheer waste of time. The authorities should focus on

deterring cases of dog abuse.

 

To prevent dog bites, education is the one and only key solution that

needs to be implemented. Children should be taught to behave in ways

that don't trigger off aggression in dogs. Pet dog owners should not

be allowed to send their dogs for 'guard dog training' as these dogs

can't tell the difference between an intruder or a visiting relative.

'Guard dog training' should only be left to the police forces and the

relevant authorities.

 

For dog owners, basic pet dog obedience training should be

recommended. However that does not mean that compulsory training

should be forced upon dog owners. It is heartening to learn that in

this modern society, more and more dog owners have learnt accept dogs

as a companions and as a family member that could enrich their lives.

 

Tens of millions of people have silently benefitted from having dogs

as pets but sadly all these cases have gone unreported. People that

live with dogs are at a lower risk of having heart attacks and

children that lives in homes with pets are more likely to grow up

having love and care for all animals. Dog lovers will certainly agree

with me that people that live with dogs are happier then those that

don't.