Friday December 30, 2005
MBSA charging extra for dog tag
By Salina Khalid At MBSA Full Board
DOG owners in Shah Alam who will have to pay for the dog tag as part of the license issued by the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) starting next year.
Deputy mayor Za'ba Che Rus said the tag, which contains a serial number of the license and its expiry date, is made out of aluminium.
"We do not charge the dog owners for the tag now but it has costed us quite a lot of money.
"Each of the tag costs about RM9.
"So now each new applicants have to pay RM20 for the tag," he said.
He was speaking at the MBSA last full board meeting for this year, held at the city council on Thursday (Dec 29).
Za'ba explained the amount (RM20) is charged only to successful dog license applicants.
The tag is used as an identification for the dog.
He added currently the tag is given free as part of the RM10 annual license fee charged to the dog owners. The fee has not been revised since 1982.
In addition to the dog tag, new applicants have to pay RM30 processing fee, a reduction from the previous RM50 imposed earlier.
It means when an applicant submit the application form they have to pay RM30 as the processing fee. However, if their application is approved, they will have to pay an additional RM10 for the annual license and RM20 for the dog tag.
Earlier, all applicants have to pay a total of RM50 as the processing fee upon the submission of their form, regardless of whether it goes through or not. Successful applicants will have to pay the RM10 for the license.
Za'ba said the decision came after the recent dialog held with the Shah Alam dog owners association .
He said the dog owners had complaint that the rules and regulations imposed by the city council were too strict and they had asked for a leniency.
"They also said that the RM50 processing fee was too high and had asked for a reduction.
"So now we will reduce it to RM30," he said.
Earlier the city council had announced a few additional rules to dog owners. It includes getting written permission from their immediate neighbours prior to obtaining a yearly renewal dog license. The license accompanied by a special form, which costs a nominal fee of RM2.
Applicants are also required to submit a photograph of the dog, the kennel and the surroundings of the house.
The health certificate for the dog issued by a veterinarian must also be submitted with the application.
Applicants staying in a bungalow or semi-detached house will be allowed to keep two dogs but those in a terraced house can only keep one. If the license was approved, the dog owner must display a sign to show the presence of the dog in the premises and its breed.
The council also banned certain breeds of dogs in the city.
Beside rottweiler, other dogs banned under the ruling are the Akita, American Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brazileiro, Japanese Tosa, Neopolitan Mastiff and Pit Bull Terrier.
Under the MBSA licensing by-laws 1982, Rottweilers have joined the list of other ferocious breed, which are banned.
Under the Dog Licensing By-Law (1982), any offenders can be fined up to RM1,000 or serve a jail term of not more than six months. The ruling would be enforced on Jan 1, 2006.
Dogs are also not allowed in public playground and recreational parks in the city. Under the by-laws, offenders can be fined up to RM300.
The ruling however, does not include dogs used for security services by security companies.
The city council is also looking into special cases like using the dog as assistance for the disabled and senior citizens on an individual basis.
Currently they are a total of 600 licensed dogs in the city.
The dog issue had become the main topic during the full board when some of the councillors failed to understand the whole issue and had asked repetitive questions.
Instead of answering individual questions, Za'ba had told the councillors to attend the dialog.
The meeting also saw setting up of a special committee to handle the issue and to help the city council come up with better guidelines for dog owners and their neighbours.
The committee would consist representatives from MBSA, dog owners association members, veterinary services and police.
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