(MY) stray beaten cruelly and wild boars

[Guest guest]

STRAY DOG BEATEN UP: Animal welfare activists want action - The Malay

Mail - 28th Dec. 2006

 

by MOHD ISKANDAR IBRAHIM

 

THE Indonesian workers who cruelly beat up a stray dog at a

construction site recently may be in hot soup.

A coalition, comprising various groups, has lodged a report asking

police to charge the culprits in court.

 

The coalition, comprising Petpositive (Malaysian Animal-Assisted

Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association), Marpo (Malaysian

Association for Responsible Pet Ownership), Madpet (Malaysians Against

Death Penalty & Torture) and SPCA Selangor (Society for the Prevention

of Cruelty to Animals), gathered in front of Brickfi elds police

station yesterday, before making the report.

 

" We are concerned over this barbaric act. Why must they hurt an

innocent dog? No one, including animals, deserves such treatment,said

N.

 

Surendran, a lawyer representing the groups.

 

" I lodged the report on behalf of the various groups because I felt it

was unfair for the animal to be treated like that. We are shocked by

this extreme case of animal cruelty,he said.

 

The lawyer also claimed that the public and the authorities do not

take animal welfare issues seriously.

 

" It has been 25 days since the incident and we have not seen any

suspects arrested. We want those responsible to face the consequences

of what they did to that poor animal,said Surendran.

 

SPCA Selangor chairman Christine Chin said the workers who assaulted

the dog must not be forgiven and they must be punished.

 

" This is a serious case of cruelty to animals and we want the

authorities to act immediately. We do not want to see any animal,

especially dogs, get beaten like this,she said.

 

" We should show some sympathy to stray dogs because they do not have

anywhere to go or find food. A dog is a man's best friend, said

Christine.

 

On Dec 2, a local English newspaper reported that a dog, later named

'Joy' by rescuers, was beaten almost to death by a group of workers at

a construction site.

 

As a result of the beating, the dog's jaw had to be surgically removed.

 

 

--\

--------

 

SPCA: Relocate the animals

by MOHD ISKANDAR IBRAHIM

 

UNCONTROLLED development is the main reason why wild boars roam

residential areas, said the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to

Animals (SPCA).

 

SUHAIDA: (left)We fear a tragedy JUFRI: (right) Sleepless nights

SPCA Selangor chairman Christine Chin said the boars were hungry as

their source of food had been destroyed by development in that area.

 

" We are the ones who disturbed their habitat and forced them to stray

from their natural surroundings. I do not believe that shooting the

animals is the right option,she said.

 

Christine said all avenues should be explored before deciding to kill the boars.

 

" We should relocate the animals,she said.

 

She was referring to The Malay Mail's report yesterday, in which we

highlighted the plight of residents of Jalan Wangsa 11, Bukit

Antarabangsa, whose neighbourhood had been plagued by the nocturnal

presence of wild boars.

 

When The Malay Mail visited the area yesterday, residents expressed

fear over the animals' presence, claiming that the boars would arrive

in herds of 20s and head for garbage bins outside their homes.

 

A resident, Suria Suki, 60, who lives with her daughter, said she was

scared to even go for her regular evening walks now.

 

" I am even afraid to venture out to throw the rubbish,she said, adding

that the problem has grown worse.

 

" The problem started a year ago but the number of animals weren't as

many as it is now.

 

Even last night, I saw the boars again and they came in a large

group,said Suria.

 

" Three months ago, the Wildlife Department came after we complained.

They came, fired a shot and hit one of the boars. But the problem

persists and today, we still can see the boars foraging for food.

 

Another resident, Jufri Abdullah, said the boars would knock down the

rubbish bins in their search for food.

 

" They are also noisy, and have given us many sleepless nights. I'm

ticked off,said the 22-year-old student.

 

Suhaida Sawir, 40, a housewife, claimed that the boars will arrive about 10pm.

 

" We can recognise their presence as they make strange sounds when they

loot the bins in search of leftovers.

 

" To be fair, the animals have never disturbed anyone, mainly because

the residents do not venture out of the front gate.

 

" However, we fear a tragedy could happen someday. And by then, it will

be too late.

 

--\

----------

 

Armed wild boar watch

by KALBANA PERIMBANAYAGAM

 

RESIDENTS of Jalan Wangsa, Bukit Antarabangsa, received added 'muscle'

when four officers from the Wildlife and National Parks Department

stood watch over the area last night.

 

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS: A Wildlife Department officer takes aim after

detecting movement in the undergrowth last night

Residents had complained about the presence of a herd of wild boars

terrorising the neighbourhood for three months.

 

The herd, numbering about 20, have been venturing out of the nearby

woodland area at night from 10pm to midnight to forage for food.

 

Their visits, residents claimed, have been growing more frequent and

are now an almost nightly occasion.

 

The residents, who used to take nighttime walks along the road, now do

not venture out of their homes at night for fear of being attacked by

the animals (see accompanying story).

 

The Malay Mail highlighted the residents' plight yesterday, following

which, the department promised swift action.

 

Yesterday, its officers, armed with .

 

22 rifles and 12-gauge shotguns, parked themselves along the road from 10.

 

30pm to 4am, in the hopes that the boars would appear.

 

A department spokesman, who declined to be identified, said the boars

may have come from a thick forest about 1km away.

 

" Being nomadic, they don't usually stay in one spot for long.

 

As the residents have attested, it is likely that they came here to

source for food.

 

" Boar attacks on humans are rare, but they will do so if they feel

threatened. However, as this is a residential area, we cannot take the

chance of someone getting hurt.

 

He said they planned to kill one boar as a deterrent to the others.

 

" We don't normally kill animals, our job is to protect them.

 

However, when they venture into human territory and there is a danger

of people getting hurt, then we have to re-evaluate the situation.

 

At Press time, there were no sightings.

 

The officer said it was doubtful that they would see any boars due to

the heavy rain last night.

 

" Nevertheless, we will continue our operation until we are certain

that the boars do not venture into the neighbourhood anymore. "