(MY) just punishment for mistreatment

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The Malay Mail-18th 0ct 2005

 

SPCA: Just punishment is two-year jail term, RM10,000 fine

 

SHAH ALAM, SELANGOR, Oct 18

--

 

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has

embarked on a two-year campaign calling for stiffer penalties against

pet owners who mistreat their animals.

 

They are seeking a maximum fine of RM10,000 and a two-year

imprisonment for violators of Animal Ordinance 1953.

 

They have embarked on a signature campaign calling for amendments to

the Ordinance.

 

As of January this year, they have collected 20,000 signatures. SPCA

hopes to collect more than 100,000 signatures which they hope to

submit to the Prime Minister by Oct 4, next year, on World Animals

Day.

 

Selangor SPCA inspector Sabrina Yeap said the current penalty of a

maximum fine of RM200 and a jail sentence not exceeding six months do

not reflect the seriousness of animal abuse and neglect.

 

Speaking to the Press in Shah Alam yesterday, Yeap said they want

these people to be hit with stiffer penalties, to teach them a lesson.

 

Yeap was commenting on the case of Sheena, a seven-year-old German

Shepherd which was neglected by her owner.

 

Sheena's owner, Lien San Chong, an engineer from Subang Jaya, was

fined a paltry RM100 after pleading guilty to neglect.

 

Lien is the sixth person since 2004 to be hauled to court for

neglecting their pets.

 

Yeap said there were six cases of animal neglect and abuse, all involving dogs.

 

Below are briefs of those cases.

 

- In January this year, a woman was fined a maximum RM200 and

imprisoned for three days after her dog was scalded on the head.

 

- In May last year, a Cheras pedigree breeder was fined RM200 for

mistreating 13 dogs.

 

- In June, a man was fined RM150 and jailed one day for neglecting his dog.

 

- In April, a retired Sri Kembangan primary school teacher admitted

stray dogs into his house through a hole in his fence and had been

feeding them everyday for the past six months. He was accused of

neglecting the animals.

 

- In January, a Puchong pet owner was fined RM100 after she left her

three dogs unattended and not fed for 10 days during the Chinese New

Year holidays.