(MY) pet shop and cruelty case

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Monday November 20, 2006 - The Star

 

Ensure welfare of pet shop animals

 

I WENT to a pet shop and was horrified by what I saw.

 

Except for the fish and hamsters, all the animals were kept in a

miserable condition.

 

There was a baby alligator in an aquarium just the length of its body

and a large snapping turtle in a filthy tank where it did not even

have space to turn around.

 

A few half-grown puppies were kept shut in tiny cages meant for very

small dogs. The place stank, too.

 

What some people are doing to the helpless animals they sell is both

physical and mental torture.

 

I urge our Government to impose stricter laws to protect the rights of

animals and bring those who abuse them to justice.

 

ANGELINE SIEW,

 

Alor Star.

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Tuesday November 21, 2006 _ The Star

 

 

Act on dog cruelty case

 

THE horrendous account by Ordinary Citizen of how two dogs in Malacca

were beaten with an iron rod until one of them died was extremely

disturbing, " Present laws inadequate in protecting animals " (The Star,

Nov 17).

 

Now that what has transpired is out in the open – thanks to your

newspaper – it would be worse if no one does anything about it. People

would just be cruel to animals again and again.

 

Authorities such as the veterinary department, the local council and

the police should do everything possible to investigate the matter and

bring such perpetrators to the book.

 

A hotline should be created for the public to report cases of animal

cruelty throughout the country.

 

Action must be swift and unsparing.

 

It is a crying shame that animal cruelty offenders in our society,

more often than not, get away scot-free when such heinous crimes are

committed on defenceless and innocent animals.

 

As Malaysians, we take great pride in the fact that we are a caring

people and nation. We are also quick to denounce situations of

injustice when we see them.

 

But our weakness is that we sometimes choose to look the other way

when animals become casualties and victims of society's greed,

ignorance or apathy.

 

Dogs, because of their unflinching love and loyalty would rather die

than to strike back or defend themselves against the hand that feeds

them – even in the most extreme of circumstances.

 

Thus it is easy for families who have them to abuse them, because of

their totally trusting nature.

 

Local councils, which are in charge of pet licensing, should provide

pet education programmes for pet owners in order to raise their

consciousness and respect for all of God's creatures, great or small.

 

 

DR PADMA PILLAI,

 

Committee Member,

 

Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association,

 

Kuala Lumpur.