FWD: Be more alert against smuggling of animals

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This article is from thestar.com.my

URL:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/12/3/focus/seizedx & sec=focus

 

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Tuesday, December 03, 2002

Be more alert against smuggling of animals

 

 

WE REFER to your report, “<a

href= " http://thestar.com.my/news/list.asp?file=/2002/11/21/nation/kgrrani & sec=na\

tion " target= " _blank " >Seized animals sold to public,” (The Star, Nov 21</a>

 

We read with concern the plight of puppies being brought in illegally from

Thailand. It is a fact that this practice has been carried out by individuals

and smuggling syndicates for quite a while, undetected by the Customs

Department.

 

Kudos to the anti-smuggling unit that uncovered this consignment of live

animals.

 

There are two issues involved in the trans-shipment of these animals across

international borders.

 

Firstly, Thailand is a rabies-listed country. To prevent the spread of disease

across borders, we have regulations: import and export permits, minimum age of

imported live animals, vaccinations and quarantine requirements.

 

How is it that the Customs Department could sell the seized animals to the

public without vaccinations and minimum quarantine requirements?

 

It is understandable that the department does not have the expertise to house

and keep live animals, but surely the matter could have been referred to the

relevant enforcement department, in this case the Veterinary Department which

has facilities in Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru for housing imported

animals.

 

Secondly, the other issue should have been the cruelty the animals were

subjected to.

 

It is obvious from the photograph that the spaniels were being subjected to

overcrowding and the puppies were put under boxes to conceal them.

 

One could imagine the heat stress these puppies were subjected to.

 

It is our society’s hope that the Customs Department be more vigilant against

the smuggling of live animals and that it liaise with the veterinary services to

bring the culprits to book.

 

 

 

CHEAH WEE KOOI,

 

Secretary, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Penang.

 

(via e-mail)

 

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