(MY) dogs thwarted break-in

[Guest guest]

Tuesday August 8, 2006 - The Star

 

Dogs have thwarted many a break-in attempt

 

THE Malaysian Association for Responsible Pet Ownership (Marpo) would like

to suggest the keeping of dogs to fight crime in our society.

 

Because dogs possess excellent hearing through their inner ears, they make

devoted protectors to their human families in their homes.

 

Dogs' hearing and sense of smell are so superior that they are able to

pinpoint the exact origins of sounds, make accurate interpretations of them

and distinguish between threatening and harmless ones before any danger

occurs.

 

Even those without dogs can benefit from their neighbours owning them

because the animals also tend to protect the surroundings from any unusual

activity.

 

Small dogs have one of the loudest barks among all breeds and such alerts

have thwarted many break-in attempts.

 

Big dogs such as Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Dobbermans and others are

fearless when defending their human family.

 

They also possess menacing looks. No robber or snatch thief in his right

mind would want to mess with anyone with such canines around.

 

We would like to encourage women and others who feel they are easy prey to

snatch thieves and others to take their dogs with them when they go for jogs

or when they have to walk through lonely areas.

 

In view of this, Marpo would like to urge the local authorities to relax

their rules for such people who take their pets with them to public parks

that prohibit dogs.

 

All dogs, however, must be on a leash when taken out to public places. They

must not be allowed by their owners to be a nuisance to others.

 

Owners must promptly pick up their pets' droppings and have them disposed of

properly.

 

Owning a dog is a huge lifetime responsibility and those who are not ready

to fulfil such obligations should never own a dog.

 

A burglar alarm, pepper spray or even a hand-held battery-operated siren may

be suitable alternatives.

 

 

 

*DR JON S. SATYAMOORTHY,

 

Pro tem president,

 

Malaysian Association for

 

Responsible Pet Ownership,

 

Kuala Lumpur.*