Monday November 8, 2010
Mah: Look into cruel dog killing
By SYLVIA LOOI
[email protected]
IPOH: The recent killing of a licensed therapy dog by Ipoh City Council enforcement officers is totally unacceptable, said Perak state executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon. “It is too much,” he said yesterday. He wants the city council to investigate the matter.
Food fair: Dr Mah (right, in white t-shirt) trying his hand at making chapati during the ISPCA food fair in Ipoh Sunday.
Speaking to reporters after opening a food fair in aid of Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Dr Mah said a more humane manner was needed to put down dogs. On Oct 29, the dog named Spunk, belonging to a 75-year-old woman, was gunned down after it was caught by council dog catchers.
According to a blog named Petpositive, run by the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association, Spunk was wearing a valid dog licence at the time of the incident. Petpositive said the woman had wanted to bring Spunk for his daily walk. She, however, left the dog unattended for a while as she went to her house to bring toilet paper to pick up after Spunk.
When she came out of the house, she saw Spunk in a council lorry. The 10-year-old dog was later found shot at a nearby neighbourhood. Asked why the council opted to shoot dogs rather than put them to sleep, Dr Mah, who is also state Local Government Committee chairman, said it was more economical. “Notwithstanding that, I will talk with the animal rights groups for their views on the methods of putting down dogs,” he added.
Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran said he visited the woman, a retired teacher. “She is devastated and hurt. She has mentally broken down,” he said when contacted yesterday, adding the woman has difficulty controlling her emotions. Kulasegaran lambasted the council for their inhumane treatment of the dog, adding that there was no apology from the council to the woman so far. “There is not even a word about compensation due to her,” he said.
