GEORGE TOWN, Nov 23 – Around 100 animal activist had make a peaceful rally this afternoon for dogs and to urge MBPP pound initiates open policy to allow public adoption from Jalan Sungai Pinang to Komtar, Penang. Few of animal activist also bended knees down three times every nine step all the way until Komtar with handing over their memorandum to the representative of information minister in Chief Minister officer Zahar Zainul at Komtar here this afternoon.
“We, the concern children of Penang together with the NGOs and concern Malaysia citizen from Pak Mie Shelter in Kedah, HOPE Shelter in Johor, Noah’s Ark in Ipoh, Malaysia Independent Animal Rescue in Kajang, SI Hime Shelter in Shah Alam Selangor, TNRM in Shah Alam Selangor, Zero Strays Sarawak, Save Our Strays Kuching are urging MBPP pound initiates open policy to allow public to adoption the pound dogs,” said the event organiser Avaneytha A Athimulaa, 30.
“Member of the public be allowed to enter council dog pounds to adopt dogs, At the moment, MBPP only allow registered animal shelters to claim the pound dog. Previously the public are allowed to adopt, but the practice has recently stopped. They are trying to ‘fine’ for RM100 for the removal of each dog from the council pound. This ‘fine’ is very unfair as anyone to removing a dog from the council pound,” she said.
“There are ten thousands of street dogs in Penang have been killed over many decades and still there is no solution. Killing of the street in Penang has been going on for decades and we are still at square one. This is because it is not a viable solution to the problem,” she said.
“We are not against the Penang State Government. To controlling the population, we should implement Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return / Re-home (TNVR). It will decrease the stray dog population over a period of time until we get to manageable level and also prohibits rabies,” she added.
“Besides that, we have also email the the statement about this issue to Chairman of the Local Government Committee YB Chow Kon Yeow but he said he will passing this issue to YB. Dr. Afif bin Bahardin. After we received the email from Chow, we sent the email again to YB. Dr. Afif bin Bahardin but until today, we did not receive any reply from him,” said by a spokeswomen.
“Lastly, we hope that the state government will consider the above suggestions with allocate some budget and set up a special team to support with helping the local NGOs to execute mass TNVR program whereby these NGOs are facing limitation to run mass TNVR program and instruct the relevant Exco members and Council officers to liaise with the various NGO and caretakers to implement the above suggestions,” said Avaneytha.
