From "Metro Central", "The Star" newspaper, Malaysia
Wednesday September 12, 2007
Stop this disgusting contest!
I read with horror an advertisement on the Selayang Municipal Council’s (MPS’s) website and reports in the newspapers about a Dog Catching Competition where lucrative prize money was being offered to individuals who could catch the most dogs!
The council is offering RM15,000 to the top dog catcher (with 150 dogs or more in a period of six months), and for those who do not make the top three prizes, it is offering RM20 per dog. This is really disgusting!
How could the council even come up with such an idea? The competition would only encourage more cruelty towards these helpless animals. (Bear in mind that these stray dogs that are on the streets are due to our own negligence.)
What shocked me even more was the fact that the council had openly stated that it would not be held responsible for any injury or damage caused by the individuals to the general public or themselves in their attempts to catch these stray dogs.
The only requirement was that dogs that are caught be brought in alive.
This, in my opinion, would only encourage the would-be dog catchers to physically harm the dogs prior to taking them in to the council. The council does not seem to care for the welfare of the dogs that are brought in, as there was no statement anywhere in its advertisement stating that the dogs that are caught must be caught in a humane manner.
Moreover, I also believe that this competition would actually encourage people who are out to make easy money to steal dogs!
I think that the actions of the MPS in organising such a competition are not just irresponsible, but downright barbaric.
I would like to plead to the government and the authorities to look into this matter and stop this campaign immediately. Malaysia should be a nation that cares for all living creatures, and I believe that all religions teach us to be kind to all of God’s creatures.
There are other ways and means to curb the stray population in this country. Several groups and organi-sations, like the SPCA and PAWS, are working hard to educate the public via spay and neuter campaigns.
If we let the MPS get away with its barbaric dog catching competition, we are only reinforcing in the people the belief that cruelty is an acceptable way of life.
And, I sincerely believe that Malaysians do not want to be seen by the world as a nation that sanctions cruelty to animals.
I also urge all individuals not to take part in the competition in order to preserve our integrity as decent human beings.
YVONNE DENG
Selayang
Wednesday September 12, 2007
Stop this disgusting contest!
I read with horror an advertisement on the Selayang Municipal Council’s (MPS’s) website and reports in the newspapers about a Dog Catching Competition where lucrative prize money was being offered to individuals who could catch the most dogs!
The council is offering RM15,000 to the top dog catcher (with 150 dogs or more in a period of six months), and for those who do not make the top three prizes, it is offering RM20 per dog. This is really disgusting!
How could the council even come up with such an idea? The competition would only encourage more cruelty towards these helpless animals. (Bear in mind that these stray dogs that are on the streets are due to our own negligence.)
What shocked me even more was the fact that the council had openly stated that it would not be held responsible for any injury or damage caused by the individuals to the general public or themselves in their attempts to catch these stray dogs.
The only requirement was that dogs that are caught be brought in alive.
This, in my opinion, would only encourage the would-be dog catchers to physically harm the dogs prior to taking them in to the council. The council does not seem to care for the welfare of the dogs that are brought in, as there was no statement anywhere in its advertisement stating that the dogs that are caught must be caught in a humane manner.
Moreover, I also believe that this competition would actually encourage people who are out to make easy money to steal dogs!
I think that the actions of the MPS in organising such a competition are not just irresponsible, but downright barbaric.
I would like to plead to the government and the authorities to look into this matter and stop this campaign immediately. Malaysia should be a nation that cares for all living creatures, and I believe that all religions teach us to be kind to all of God’s creatures.
There are other ways and means to curb the stray population in this country. Several groups and organi-sations, like the SPCA and PAWS, are working hard to educate the public via spay and neuter campaigns.
If we let the MPS get away with its barbaric dog catching competition, we are only reinforcing in the people the belief that cruelty is an acceptable way of life.
And, I sincerely believe that Malaysians do not want to be seen by the world as a nation that sanctions cruelty to animals.
I also urge all individuals not to take part in the competition in order to preserve our integrity as decent human beings.
YVONNE DENG
Selayang
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