Guest guest Posted April 26, 2005 Report Share Posted April 26, 2005 ***************************Advertisement*************************** TechCentral http://star-techcentral.com ***************************************************************** This message was forwarded to you by yitzeling. Comment from sender: This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my) URL: http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2005/4/26/features/10734664 & sec=\ features ________________________ Tuesday April 26, 2005 Guidelines to pet-keeping The controversy over the merit and necessity of requiring the consent of one’s immediate neighbours before being permitted to keep dogs as pets in residential areas shows no sign of abating. On one end of the polemics are the dog-owners who see the proposal as an unconstitutional infringement of their prerogative to keep pets in their own homes, while on the other end we have citizens who believe that the move, if implemented, will thwart irresponsible pet ownership. We cannot ignore the possibility that if enforced, the stipulation will be vulnerable to abuse and will further polarise Malaysians. The ruling, as enforced by the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), would foreseeably create tension, disharmony and poor neighbourly relations. Dogs are singled out for this ruling because it has been submitted that they are noisy, tend to foul up public areas, and could possibly attack humans. However, even cats, exotic pets and reptiles could carry zoonotic diseases, disrupt an ecosystem when abandoned and may defecate in neighbours’ premises and public areas if left unsupervised. Why is it then that despite ferocious lobbying by animal protection groups, the local authorities and municipal councils have not come up with any ruling or guideline pertaining to other types of pets and the dangers they could pose? I humbly submit that the requirement of one’s neighbours’ consent before a dog licence may be obtained is, at best, a short-term solution. Many factors have to be taken into consideration before any laws restricting homeowners’ rights can be passed and enforced. In order to create a society that practises mindful and responsible pet ownership, the “best practice” guidelines already in place in other countries should be adopted and implemented by the municipal councils. These include: <li>Introducing differential licensing fees for neutered and unneutered dogs to encourage spaying and neutering. <li>Introducing higher licensing fees for large-breed working dogs such as Rottweilers to deter the irresponsible from purchasing these as status symbols. <li>Subsidising spay/neuter fees for all companion animals to break the vicious cycle of overpopulation and inappropriate and amateur husbandry. <li>Introducing faecal pollution laws to fine any pet owner who allows his or her pet to defecate in public areas or neighbours’ homes for more than one week. This is to deter people from releasing their pets to relieve themselves outdoors, and provides an avenue for long-suffering neighbours. <li>Introducing laws that make it an offence for any pet owner to let his or her pet roam outside the pet owner’s premises. Such a law will assist the cause of responsible pet ownership and kindness to animals, as many animals are injured or killed in road accidents and other mishaps. <li>Increasing the penalty for animal abuse and instituting and enforcing laws against improper abandonment of animals apart from at designated animal shelters. Such laws would keep animal cruelty in check and discourage the impulsive buying or adoption of pets. <li>Subsidising (through tax relief) and increasing the number of dog training workshops to instil obedience particularly among large-breed dogs. <li>Introducing designated dog parks and dog walking lanes in residential areas and towns as a concession for dog-owners, since dogs are already restricted from entering most public spaces and playgrounds. Dog owners in Malaysia are generally tolerant and have yielded to many laws that curtail their freedom and that of their dogs. It would be in the interests of justice and harmony to reach a compromise by setting up designated dog-friendly parks. <li>Introducing laws to prohibit any person below the age of 16 or any domestic servant from walking large-breed dogs like Dobermans and Rottweilers, since these dogs may be difficult to control and have a propensity to defy anyone they do not perceive to be their master. <li>Introducing laws to ensure that all dogs are kept in escape-proof properties. It has always been part of the dog adoption process of the SPCA that the potential owner’s home is inspected and given approval. However, this has drawn a lot of criticism and the SPCA has been labelled unreasonable and excessively strict, when such a regulation should have been enforced by municipal councils long ago to curb irresponsible pet ownership. <li>Setting up a taskforce under the Veterinary Services Department and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs to inspect pet stores to ensure that the animals’ living conditions are humane, healthy and safe. <li>Restricting and banning the sale of exotic pets, as many of these are endangered species and need special care. Also, many exotic animals such as green iguanas carry zoonotic diseases and could also disrupt the ecosystem if released or abandoned. Ferrets, for instance, are skilful killers and could cause a veritable dent in the local bird population. <li>Any law, if implemented, should not have retroactive effect. Not only is this rule constitutional and fair, but also, once adopted, animals become part of a family. To compel a family to give up a pet is cruel and causes unnecessary stress and unhappiness to the affected family, the animal concerned, and the immediate neighbours. The way we treat our companion animals reflects on us as a nation. Implementing policies that are motivated by fear and antipathy bespeaks narrow-mindedness on our part. Good policies are those that are responsive of the needs of all parties involved and can preserve social order without requiring the sacrifice of fundamental rights. <b>E.L. Wong<bR> Rawang, Selangor<p> ________________________ Your one-stop information portal: The Star Online http://thestar.com.my http://biz.thestar.com.my http://classifieds.thestar.com.my http://cards.thestar.com.my http://search.thestar.com.my http://star-motoring.com http://star-space.com http://star-jobs.com http://star-ecentral.com http://star-techcentral.com 1995-2004 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd. All rights reserved. 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