OUR GOLDEN PRINCESS - KID

Kid, a beautiful Poomeranian-Spitz mixed, left us at 9.53pm on Sunday, November 16, 2008. She was about 11 years old. She was a very clean, disciplined, brave, independent dog, who loved to play with puppies and us, and never made noise unnecessarily. She never caused any fight, but was never intimidated by larger dogs.

MALAYSIA: DOGS CAUGHT ARE STARVED, TORTURED, SUFFOCATED & KILLED

From "Letters", "Malaysiakini"
Parimalawani Muthiah May 8, 08 4:15pm

Put a stop to madcap dog-catching antics

I refer to the letter Urgent need for dog-pounds.

Personally I am sick to the stomach and fed-up with the antics of these animals in the guise of human beings who feel nothing when subjugating dogs to much suffering and pain.

I have also been told by Klang municipal council workers that caught dogs are kept in a 'caged-up' lorry without food or water from the time they are captured until they are cruelly executed.

There was also an occasion in Telok Panglima Garang, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Kuala Langat District Council, when I confronted a group of dog catchers trying to steal two dogs tied-up in someone's backyard.

The men, who were traveling in a council vehicle accompanied by two council officers, were themselves rounded-up to go on the dog-catching spree.

Some of them looked like drug addicts and alcoholics and had no qualms about trespassing into private property to steal the two dogs.

Upon confrontation, the officers quickly apologised and sped off with their sorry bunch of canine bounty hunters.

And of course Leigh's mention of the MPAJ also brings to mind JAD Enterprise which was engaged by the council to round-up stray dogs some years ago.

Many of the dogs which were caught by the canine bounty hunting company had suffocated to death after being locked-up in a van.

All these unfortunate incidents as well as the cruelty shown by local councils towards dogs arise because some people believe that they score heavenly points whenever they torture and put a dog to death.

I hope that the new Pakatan Rakyat government in Selangor would put an immediate stop to the cruel madcap dog catching antics practiced by the local councils in the state.

DOGS CAUGHT BY MUNICIPAL COUNCIL WORKERS IN MALAYSIA ARE ILL-TREATED & KILLED

From "Letters", "Malaysiakini"
Leigh Chen Siew Kuan May 5, 08 3:07pm

Urgent need for dog-pounds

Jojo is a black and tan female dog who loves to climb over her owner’s wall and hide under the concrete drain slabs in the alley. On April 10, between 12 noon to 1pm, she was spotted by Ampang Municipal Council (MPAJ) dogcatchers who went on to noose her. As her owner wasn’t in, a neighbour informed them that Jojo is owned.

The dogcatchers told the neighbour they were acting on a ‘complaint’ about Jojo. The complaint wasn’t defined in detail. Jojo who is so elusive and petrified of humans?

That evening her owner came back and couldn’t find Jojo. The next day we still didn’t see her. On behalf of her owner, my friend rang up Rizal from Bahagian Kesihatan who confirmed he was in charge of yesterday’s dog-catching operations. Here comes the twist.

He remembered Jojo but didn’t noose her because she escaped. When my friend insisted she wanted to check out the dogs caught yesterday, he tersely informed her all the dogs were brought to Klang yesterday evening itself ‘untuk dibunuh’ following his superior’s orders. We, the people, are not allowed to go there. He coldly added, ‘Lagipun, tu semua anjing kurap dan liar!’

His superior, the council’s deputy environmental health officer, informed a journalist last year that the setting up of a dog pound had been delayed due to the high costs involved which he put at RM50,000 – RM60,000. Is MPAJ eradicating strays in this nauseating and vulgar approach as a humane service to community? No holding period or humane considerations would be granted to these hapless and homeless animals? How do we go about claiming pets, which have been mistaken for strays and caught by municipalities without pounds?

Municipal councils such as Kajang and Klang do not have dog-pounds. Where are the caught animals kept if they are unable to killed right away? I have heard of frightful and violent stories about councils and their dog-catching contractors. Some dogcatchers make a trip to the council to claim money for their catch only when the van is filled up with dogs. As it might take days or weeks for the van to be filled up, dogs caught earlier would have died of hunger, thirst, fights and puppies trampled to death. Fierce dogs have been bashed to death with a stick.

Another question follows. Is Rizal a qualified animal medical officer to make out clearly at one sweeping glance between mangy and non-mangy dogs? Would he have known if a particular owned mangy dog was undergoing skin treatment and just happened to stroll out for a while? Is he experienced enough to recognise if an animal is a stray or a house pet? A very relevant question: how are the ‘semua anjing kurap dan liar’ put down? Is this mass euthanasia supervised by a qualified animal medical officer?

The bottom line is humans caused the existence of strays through their irresponsible pet- ownership. It is in short the human wrongs that need managing. These strays, cats or dogs, (through no fault of their own) admittedly do have an adverse impact on the public health, safety, welfare and environment. Mandatory sterilisation is the most effective, economical, humane and ethical solution to the problem of unwanted cats and dogs lacking permanent homes. It arrests unwanted births too. This will seek to promote the health, safety, welfare and environment of the people considerably.

Till today, we are still crazy with worry as Jojo is still missing. Maybe, she went on a one way trip to Klang. To the ‘animal judges and executioners’ of our local municipal councils, I leave you with this quotation by Pierre Troubetzkoy to ponder over: ‘Why should man expect his prayer for mercy to be heard by what is above him when he shows no mercy to what is under him?’

Animals are mental creatures which have beliefs and desires, memories and expectations; who feel pleasure and pain, experience emotions. Like us.

SLAUGHTER OF COWS FOR RELIGIOUS (MUSLIM) FESTIVAL IN MALAYSIA

Every year, all over the world and here in Malaysia, Muslims slaughter sacrificial animals like cows and goats for their religious festival, known as Hari Raya Aidiladha/Hari Raya Haji/Hari Raya Korban/Qurban.

These poor animals are roped around their necks, dragged, tied up and then their throats are slit while they are still alive. They then lie there dying while the blood drains out of them.

Such gruesome acts, inflicting so much pain, are so primitive and cruel. You can actually see the animals shed tears, looking so sad and pitiful, while their butchers/murderers, the onlookers and those waiting for their meat would be full of excitement and glee, in anticipation of the big feast ahead.

Such slaughter is also carried out for weddings, celebrations and practically any special occasions.

SLAUGHTER OF COWS & GOATS IN MALAYSIAN PARLIAMENT COMPOUND

From "The Sun" newspaper, Malaysia

July 10, 2007

Slaughter of animals in august place riles MPs

KUALA LUMPUR : A decision by backbenchers to slaughter six head of cattle and 10 goats in the compound of Parliament House to celebrate Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad's marriage annoyed other MPs.

"I am objecting to this on two grounds. This is Parliament. How can we allow the slaughter of animals in the compound? Should this not be done in an abattoir?" M. Kulasegaran (DAP-Ipoh Barat) asked Speaker Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib just after question time.

"Morever, this slaugher of cattle is sensitive to Hindus. Surely you should have thought about this aspect before allowing it."

Ramli's response was that the animals were slaughtered for the kenduri hosted by the Backbenchers Club (BBC) to celebrate the marriage of Abdullah to Jeanne.

When Kulasegaran said he was aware of the reason but that the slaughter should not be allowed, Ramli said any similar request in the future would be looked at carefully.

"I don't see why there should be any objection to this. This is norm (slaughter animals) whenever there is a kenduri. Therefore, it is not an unusual practice," Ramli said.

Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) begged to differ. "This is an august place. We use this place for meetings. If next time, the Opposition wants to slaughter other animals then what happens?" she asked.

"Even though it is a norm by BBC, it does not mean it is correct. And it should not be continued."

Fong said non-Muslim MPs are sensitive to the religious beliefs of others that they were "even careful with the type of food they brought into the parliament building".

She said this should be reciprocated.

Ramli brought the discussion to a close by promising that the House would be careful in similar requests in the future.

Acting BNBBC chairman Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar (BN-Larut) told reporters in the lobby of the Dewan Rakyat that the backbenchers decided on the kenduri after he was given the go-ahead by the parliament administration.

"We only did it after the House gave us permission. The place was decided by the parliament," he said.

"Where else are we supposed to do it anyway? We are members of Parliament, we are entitled to do it here," he declared.

A Hindu BNBBC committee member S.K.Devamany (BN-Cameron Highlands), met in the lobby said he did not know of the planned slaughter.

"I was not at the meeting when it was decided. By the time I came to know of it. All the arrangements were put in place."

Devamany vowed to ensure that in future it will not happen again.

LOYAL DOG STAYED WITH ELDERLY OWNER AS FLOOD WATERS ROSE AND BARKED UNTIL HELP ARRIVED

From "News, Nation", "The Star" newspaper, Malaysia
Thursday April 17, 2008

Dog saves woman from watery death

SEREMBAN: A dog seeing that its elderly owner was in danger of drowning, when flash floods struck Kampung Ulu Temiang yesterday, did the only thing it could do. It didn't stop barking until help came along.

The woman, who suffers from chronic asthma, was on the verge of drowning in her wooden house, as flood waters kept rising steadily, but her loyal pet refused to leave her side.

However, most of her neighbours had left their half-submerged houses to seek shelter from the floods, resulting from a two-hour downpour which began at 2.30pm, and did not hear the canine's frantic call for help.

The dog's desperate barking eventually alerted a team of fire and rescue personnel, who aided by some neighbours, went to the house and found the woman, in her 60s, shivering and helpless, barely able to keep her head above the rising water level.

Bernama learnt that it was only when the firemen rescued the woman that her faithful dog left her side and swam to safety, proving that dogs are indeed man’s, or in this case, a woman’s best friend.

POISONING OF HOMELESS DOGS BY MUNICIPAL COUNCIL WORKERS IN KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

From "Metro, Central", "The Star" newspaper, Malaysia
Saturday April 26, 2008
By WANI MUTHIAH

Strays being poisoned

A NURSING home manager in Old Klang Road has alleged that certain quarters are on a dog-poisoning spree in the city.

Prakash Singam claimed that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) dog-catching unit might be behind this.

According to the 33-year-old, he first spotted food being thrown out to dogs from a DBKL van cruising around his neighbourhood early this year.

“There were three men in the van, including the driver, and they were throwing food from the vehicle’s side door,” said Prakash.

He said the stray dogs in the area immediately rushed towards the food and began eating them.

Realising that something was amiss, Prakash said he rushed towards the dogs and shooed them away from the food but some of the dogs had already started eating the food by then.

“A dog, which ate the most began foaming at the mouth and became disoriented,’’ said Prakash, adding that he didn’t see the dog again after that.

He said he also found a dead dog in a monsoon drain near his home a day after the incident.

But his real nightmare took place last week when his two dogs, Leia and Dopey, were taken ill.

“In the evenings we usually let them out for a while. One evening they returned home foaming at the mouths,” he said.

He said both his dogs were licensed and never ventured far when let out and usually just hung around the front gate.

“Dopey was not so serious and we managed to nurse him back to health but Leia had to be treated at a veterinary clinic for about a week,’’ said Prakash.

He added there were burn marks inside her throat and the veterinarian who treated Leia said the dog had suffered a bad case of pesticide poisoning.

Meanwhile, SPCA chairman Christine Chin said a volunteer pet rescuer had also informed her that some people had also seen several men throwing chicken heads to dogs in the Jalan Kuching vicinity from a DBKL van.

Apparently after consuming the food, the dogs started foaming at the mouth and later died.

When contacted Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said it was hard to believe that DBKL was behind the poisoning spree.

“I strongly believe the DBKL’s dog- catching unit will not resort to such an inhumane and cruel method of countering the problem of stray dogs,’’ said Saravanan.

However, he added that he would look into the matter as soon as possible.

ENDANGERED SUN BEAR IN MALAYSIA CAGED & NEGLECTED FOR MONTHS DIES

From "Nation", "The Star" newspaper, Malaysia

Wednesday April 9, 2008
BY STEPHEN THEN

Endangered sun bear dies

MIRI: An endangered sun bear died from neglect after it was locked up for months inside a small iron cage and used as a showpiece to attract visitors in a private farm on the Miri-Bintulu Second Coastal Highway.

It died after its owner hid it inside a forest away from public view after a group of expatriates, disgusted with the way the creature was treated, complained to the owner and the authorities.

“The sun bear was kept continuously inside the cage where it died recently,” said a worker at the farm, located at Jalan Bakam, next to the National Service Training Camp.

Miri Wildlife Department enforcement chief Abang Arabi Abang Imran said yesterday the owner was unable to give a satisfactory explanation on the sun bear which was missing from the farm.

Asked why it took six months for his department to investigate this case after the first complaints were lodged, Arabi said: “I told my enforcement people to handle the case immediately. I must find out why the bear was not rescued.”

The Star highlighted this case last Aug 11 after South African expatriate Tweet Gainsborough, whose husband was working for an oil and gas giant here in Miri, alerted the newspaper.

The conditions enraged expatriates and animal lovers who visited the farm located near Sungai Rait in the southern part of Miri district on the way to Bintulu, 30km from Miri City.

The non-aggressive sun bear is the smallest in the bear family and is classified as an endangered and protected species.

Gainsborough lodged many complaints with the farm manager, the Miri Wildlife Department, the Miri City Council and the Sarawak Forestry Department.

Arabi confirmed that the private farm did not have a permit to keep the animal.

PET CEMETERY IN MALAYSIA

From "Metro Central", "The Star" newspaper, Malaysia
Wednesday April 9, 2008
By CHARLES FERNANDEZ

Resting place for beloved pets

THE death of a pet can leave a deep void and create a great amount of sorrow for some. What you’re left with are memories of precious moments spent with them.

Coming to terms with the loss is not an easy process, but it can be managed if you choose to channel your grief through a unique avenue – creating a special shrine in honour of your treasured buddy. This could be done at the first ever Pet Memorial Garden located within the Nirvana Memorial Park (NMP).

Businesswoman S.H. Chia’s dog, a Shih Tzu, died last November and she was one of the first to book a plot for her pet she fondly calls JI, short for John Iris.

There are 200 plots and so far 20 have been booked since the Pet Memorial Garden was launched last year.

Chia was at the NMP with her two-year-old John Gillian or JG, also a Shih Tzu, to pay homage to elder brother JI.

“Both are from the same family. I miss my JI so much. I took the opportunity during the Qing Ming festival to pay my respects as even pets deserve them,” said Chia.

She spent RM4,800 for the funeral service when JI died.

“It was a huge loss like losing a member of the family. It didn’t want to bury him just about anywhere as I wanted him to be comfortable. This memorial centre has given me an opportunity to preserve the memory of my JI in a more dignified way,” she said.

The Pet Memorial Garden is a monument within the NMP, built to showcase the bond between people and their pets.

Just like a funeral service for a person, the pet gets the same exclusive service where the owner can witness the last rites of their beloved pet.

The package provides door-to-door service but is restricted within a 35km radius from the Nirvana Memorial Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Owners could also erect tombstones with special inscriptions and have the burial plot landscaped to their liking.

When a pet dies, a private gathering featuring a memorial service would be conducted with loved ones and close friends to bid the final farewell.