(my) doggone it

[Guest guest]

Owners' dogged determination pays off

By HALIM SAID

SHAH ALAM, March 10: The Malay Mail

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Here's good news for dog owners in Shah Alam.

 

 

Several canine licensing regulations deemed unfair to dog owners and

" based on ignorance and fear " will be amended soon.

 

This came about after a meeting between representatives of the

Malaysian Association of Responsible Pet Ownership (Marpo) and Shah

Alam Datuk Bandar Datuk Ramli Mahmud at his office in Wisma MBSA

yesterday.

 

Ramli, who chaired the two-hour meeting, admitted the existing

by-laws, introduced in 1982 for the licensing of dogs, were vague and

had to be improved.

 

" We have to be reasonable to dog owners and their neighbours. What we

are doing is finding a solution which benefits both parties. "

 

Ramli said the amendments will be discussed at the MBSA council

meeting at the end of the month.

 

The amended regulations will be enforced on April 1.

 

He said several regulations that have been imposed, such as licensing

fees, allowable premises for dogs and the mandatory dog house or

kennel (see accompanying story) would be changed.

 

" Instead of paying RM60 for the licence, existing and new owners will

only pay RM20, which is inclusive of the embedded microchip in their

dogs, " he said.

 

Ramli said microchip enabled details of a dog to be traced and its

owner identified.

 

Ramli, however, warned dog owners that a failure to adhere to the new

regulations would mean that their dog licences would be revoked by the

council.

 

The meeting was attended by Shah Alam Deputy Datuk Bandar Zaba Che

Rus, MBSA licensing director Rosli Bakar, Marpo protem president Dr

Jon S. Satyamoorthy and association members.

 

Satyamoorthy thanked Ramli for relaxing the previously rigid

regulations on dog ownership.

 

" We have waited a long time for this meeting. We are all happy that

the mayor listened to our views and made changes that will benefit

both dog owners and their neighbours, " Satyamoorthy said.

 

He also thanked The Paper That Cares for championing the interests of

dog owners in Shah Alam.

 

In April 2005, MBSA announced new rulings for dog owners which

required them to fill up RM2 application forms.

 

The owners also had to pay a RM50 service fee and RM10 licensing fee.

 

Dogs could only be kept by owners of detached, double-storey and

corner terrace houses.

 

Those living in bungalows and semi-detached houses could only keep two

dogs, while those living in terrace and corner houses could only have

one.

 

Owners had to keep their dogs on a leash and muzzled while taking them

for walks.

 

Dogs were prohibited from playgrounds and recreation areas, and owners

could be fined RM300 for breaching such rules.

 

Satyamoorthy said Marpo would work closely with the MBSA in educating

the public on proper dog care as well as familiarising them with the

new regulations.

 

" We want to make sure dogs are not blamed for being a public nuisance, " he said.

 

 

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DOG-GONE IT!

 

March 10:

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HERE are some of the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) dog licensing

regulations that will be amended and enforced from April 1:

 

 

* Dog owners will have to pay RM20 for a dog licence (covering

processing fee and microchip) instead of RM60 annually.

 

* The annual dog licensing fee will be fixed at RM20. Senior citizens

aged 56 and above will only pay RM10 and the fee will be waived for

the handicapped (provided they show their disability card during

applications).

 

* Owners with intermediate terrace houses can keep dogs provided they

have the written consent of their neighbours (to their left and

right). However, existing licensed dog owners DO NOT need such

consent.

 

* Existing licensed dog owners who acquired their licences from other

local authorities shall continue to use those licences until they

expire.

 

* Rottweilers are no longer banned in Shah Alam. However, those who

want to adopt this breed as pets must obtain special approval from the

State Veterinary Department.

 

* There are seven breeds of dogs that are banned in Shah Alam — the

Akita, American Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, Fila Braziliero, Japanese

Tosa, Neopolitan Mastiff and Pit Bull Terrier/American Pit

Bull/Saffonshire Bull Terrier.