(MY) canine abuse

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Canine abuse: Animal rights group mulls suing KTMB and Selayang council-

Malay Mail

 

 

Azreen Hani <http://www.mmail.com.my/content/17747-azreen-hani>

Thursday, May 6th, 2010 11:29:00

[image: Dog] <http://www.mmail.com.my/content/35605-dog>

 

TORTURE: 'KTM' at MDDB centre. INSET: 'KTM' chained to a railing and stick

shoved down his throat

 

*PETALING JAYA:* The saga of a stray dog found chained on March 15 at the

Kepong Sentral railway station with a length of wood stuffed into its mouth

has ended sadly 46 days later with its death.

 

With the canine's death, animal rights body Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better

(MDDB) are now mulling legal action against KTM Bhd (KTMB) for allowing such

an incident to happen at its premises. MDDB representative, M. Mala told *The

Paper That Cares* the organisation would hold a meeting today with members

and lawyers to discuss further action.

 

" We do not need KTMB's money.

 

" The lawsuit does not mean we want monetary compensation. Our claims would

include getting KTMB to adopt an animal shelter or to sponsor the 'trap,

neuter, release' programme. "

 

The canine's death is just another reason why justice should be sought

against animal abuse. She said this was not the first such incident to have

resulted in an animal's death.

 

The dog's plight was noticed by a commuter on March 15, who had then

complained about the canine's maltreatment to KTMB staff and the Selayang

Municipal Council (MPS).

 

KTMB president Dr Aminuddin Adnan confirmed the stray dog was captured by

railway staff on March 14. The dog had apparently been roaming the Kepong

station for almost two years and was a nuisance — attacking and biting

passengers at both the station's parking area and ticketing counter.

 

KTMB had lodged several reports with the council on this stray dog. The

canine was captured by KTMB staff a day after the last report was lodged

with the council.

 

But, upon receiving the commuter's complaint, the stray dog — now aptly

dubbed " KTM " — was released and it had apparently, since, stayed away from

the Kepong station.

 

Some time later, " KTM " was captured by the council and identified by Society

for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor members at the

council's pound. The canine was bailed out and handed to MDDB for

rehabilitation.

 

" The the council's pound was very unhygienic and dirty. Most of the puppies

sent there became infected. We suspect " KTM " might also have been infected

in the 10 days at the Selayang pound, " said Mala.

 

" The dog's health condition was improving, despite being frail earlier. But,

on his last day, he showed some respiratory problems and it was believed he

was infected with distemper. "

 

" KTM " was found to have died in his sleep at 8pm by a staff who had come to

feed the canine. MDDB is also mulling suing the council as well for having

failed to adhere to the guidelines provided by Department of Veterinary

Services in managing its animal pound.

 

The council's public relations officer Mohamad Zin Masoad said it was up to

MDDB to decide whether to sue the council.

 

" As far as we know, we have been managing the pounds as stated in the

guidelines. "

[image: Doggie] <http://www.mmail.com.my/content/35607-doggie>

 

Admitting the one-off incident where the pound was overcrowded, he said it

happened due to the lack of staff to properly manage the area at that time.

 

" Do not judge us with that one-off incident. We have been working hard to

ensure the improvement of the pound's condition and the well being of the

animals there. "

 

Zin added the council was always open to discussion from any animal rights

group for the betterment of the pound's condition.

 

KTMB declined to comment on MDDB's claims at Press time. SPCA Selangor

assistant manager of public relations and marketing, Jacinta Johnson,

expressed her sadness over the loss of " KTM " , saying the death was terrible

due to the circumstances he was in.

 

" Such animal abuse isn't something new. But, what happened to " KTM " was

simply terrible and unacceptable. "