(MY) temporary relief for dog owners

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Relief for Shah Alam dog owners - The Malay Mail

By NAJMUDDIN NAJIB

Shah Alam, Dec 31:

--

 

Dog owners here can heave a sigh of relief, albeit temporarily, after

the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) announced that enforcement action on

those who fail to comply with its new ruling will only be taken after

its committee meeting on Jan 9.

 

MBSA deputy mayor Za'ba Che Rus said the council is still willing to

review the new rules governing dog-ownership.

 

" A special committee will meet next month to discuss the matter

further. There is no need for dog owners to press the panic button

just yet, " he said.

 

The committee is made up of council members, Veterinary Department

officers, the police as well as representatives of the Malaysian

Association for Responsible Pet Ownership (MARPO).

 

Za'ba refuted dog owners' claims that more than 1,000 canines will be

affected by the new ruling.

 

" Our database shows that there are only 570 licensed dogs in Shah

Alam, " he said.

 

" If these owners are as responsible as they claim, why didn't the 500

other owners obtain licences for their dogs? "

 

He said the new ruling reflects MBSA's policy that " prevention is

better than cure " .

 

" The local council is always the first to be blamed whenever there are

cases of dogs attacking humans. Although dog owners claim that these

are isolated cases, do we need another tragedy to happen before we

act? " he said.

 

He said the new ruling does not fall under a by-law, but a by-management law.

 

" The council is given authority to assess and update the ruling

according to need. We are also awaiting the new guidelines being

drafted by the Housing and Local Government Ministry, " he said after

receiving a memorandum of protest from MARPO members at the MBSA

headquarters yesterday.

 

Around 80 MARPO members had staged a demonstration outside the

headquarters to protest against the new ruling.

 

MARPO's legal adviser N. Surendran, said the association is prepared

to take legal action against MBSA if the council persists in

implementing the new ruling.

 

" The deputy mayor has admitted that the ruling does not fall under a

by-law, thus we view its implementation as unlawful. If the council

insists on enforcing their rules, we will take them to court, " he

said.

 

He said MBSA's regulations reflect a lack of understanding of dogs and

their usefulness in the community and people's lives.

 

" The authorities should instead focus on helping to educate the public

to overcome their fears and prejudices against the animals, " he said.

 

He said some of the laws discriminate against certain groups of

people, citing the rule which permitted only the disabled to keep

Rottweilers as an example.

 

" If these dogs are truly ferocious as classified by the council, isn't

it more dangerous for them to be around the disabled instead of the

able-bodied? " he asked.