Animal Lovers Protest Alleged Cruelty towards Stray Dogs in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur: A group of animal lovers, including an NGO, gathered at Dataran Merdeka to protest the alleged cruelty towards stray dogs by local council enforcement officers.
Demands for Law Reforms
Siti Fauziah Jabbar, president of the animal shelter Fauziah Paws Care in Sungai Buloh, hopes that the government will amend the Animal Welfare Act to protect strays from any form of cruelty. She also called for more humane tactics to manage strays, citing the recent allegations of cruelty by the Kluang Municipal Council in disposing of strays.
Allegations of Cruelty
Fauziah referred to the allegations of cruelty, saying, "We call on the government to find a solution to prevent a repeat of such incidents. We hope the existing law is amended to prevent anyone, including local councils, from treating animals cruelly." The welfare group claimed to have received pictures and videos showing council officers brutally handling several dogs, with dogs, including puppies, being dragged while screaming in distress, and smaller and weaker dogs being thrown into mass graves while still alive.
Local Council’s Denial
The local council has denied the claims, stating that its officers adhered to procedure. The council also lodged a police report after a video of the alleged incident made rounds on social media.
Alternative Solutions
Separately, an animal activist from Johor, Nasir Abdul Aziz, said he was prepared to work with the local councils to find a solution on how to deal with strays, including neutering the animals. "We are not against the municipal council catching strays, but there is no need to be cruel," he said, adding that the local council should catch and release these strays away from residential areas.
Conclusion
The protest saw participants carrying placards and banners demanding for laws related to the management of strays to be reformed. The crowd was also heard chanting slogans like "stop killing animals" and "don’t be cruel to stray dogs." As the debate surrounding the management of strays continues, it is clear that there is a need for more humane and effective solutions to address this issue.
FAQs
- What is the issue with the management of strays?
- The issue lies in the alleged cruelty towards stray dogs by local council enforcement officers, as well as the lack of humane solutions to manage strays.
- What is the demand of the protesters?
- The protesters are demanding for laws related to the management of strays to be reformed, as well as for more humane tactics to be implemented in dealing with strays.
- What is the response of the local council?
- The local council has denied the allegations of cruelty, stating that its officers adhered to procedure.