Saturday September 15, 2007
Selayang dog-catching competition scrapped
KUALA LUMPUR: The controversial dog-catching competition by the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS), which offered prize money of up to RM15,000 to the public, has been called off.
State executive councillor Datuk Tang See Hang and MPS president Zainal Abidin Azim said the decision to scrap the competition, launched on Sept 3, was made following public outcry, particularly from animal rights groups and pet owners.
Tang, who is Rawang assemblyman, said the authorities would be working closely with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and other animal rights groups to ensure that the animals were handled and caught only by trained personnel.
The decision also had to do with safety concerns expressed by various groups that both the public and the strays could get injured if the competition went ahead.
“We will also be strict on irresponsible pet owners who abandoned their dogs. MPS will also look into amending the bylaws related to Dog Licensing and Dog Pound (MPS) 2005 to check against cruelty towards dogs,” he said.
On Wednesday, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo, when asked about the issue, said the state government had no objection to the competition but wanted the prize money reduced.
Animal rights organisations submitted a memorandum to Zainal Abidin at MPS building in Bandar Baru Selayang on Tuesday. The memorandum was signed by SPCA chairman Christine Chin, Malaysian Animal Rights and Welfare Association president N. Surendran, Petpositive president Anthony Thanasayan and Malaysian Association for Responsible Pet Ownership president Dr John Satyamoorthy.
Chin, who spoke on behalf of the animal rights organisation, said they would co-operate with MPS to catch the strays.
“We have SPCA volunteers waiting to help MPS in its dog-catching methods and do it a humane way. We are happy that MPS has decided not to continue with the competition.”
Related Story:
MPS scraps contest
Earlier Reports:
MB: Contest is ok, but prize money too much
Animal rights groups protest against dog catching competition
Stop this disgusting contest!
There are humane ways to control strays
Catching strays not for the man on the street
MPS bent on catching stray dogs
NGOs, pet owners cry foul over contest
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