Quah speaking at a press conference on prohibited dog breeds and MBPP’s efforts to educate the public about responsible pet ownership. — Photos: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has beefed up its efforts to raise public awareness about responsible pet ownership, with a special focus on restricted dog breeds, to ensure the community’s safety.
Councillor Quah Boon Lim, who is also MBPP’s environmental health sub-committee chairman, said the dog breeds prohibited from being imported into Malaysia are Akita, American Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, Neapolitan Mastiff and the various types of Pit Bull Terriers.
“These breeds are classified as dangerous by the Veterinary Services Department and the local council will not issue licences for their ownership in Penang.
“Despite good care and training, these breeds pose significant risks due to their inherent hereditary traits. The safety and well-being of our community remain our utmost priority,” he told a press conference at the MBPP Vector Control and Veterinary Services Centre on Jalan Sungai, George Town.
Close-up of the infographic poster on some of the prohibited dog breeds in Malaysia.
Quah warned that dog owners found in violation of these regulations could be fined up to RM200, and failure to comply with orders for the removal of such dogs might result in the animals being confiscated.
“Restricted dogs that are confiscated will be handed over to animal shelters where they will live out the rest of their lives.
“In February, we confiscated a Pit Bull after it bit someone in Bukit Gambir. The dog has since been handed over to the Penang Stray Rescue Society,” he said.
Quah said there had been eight reports of people on the island being bitten by dogs this year.
Also present were MBPP public education sub-committee chairman Benji Ang and Independent Aid for the Protection and Welfare of Animals Penang president Choong Koon Yean.
To encourage responsible pet ownership, Ang said the city council had launched a public awareness campaign.
It has printed infographic posters detailing the characteristics of these prohibited breeds.
“The campaign aims to educate the public on the risks associated with these dogs and will be disseminated through various platforms, assemblymen’s service centres and local organisations.
“Owning a pet is a privilege that comes with responsibilities towards both the animal and the community.
“Dog owners should adhere to licensing laws. Licences for dogs over three months old are available at RM10 per year through the council’s online portal (ulesen.mbpp.gov.my),” he said.
Ang urged the various condominium and apartment joint management corporations (JMCs) to obtain the posters from the local council’s Vector Control and Veterinary Services Centre on Jalan Sungai to be placed on residents’ notice boards.
Choong said potential dog owners must thoroughly research the specific needs and characteristics of their preferred dog breeds before deciding to get a pet.
“They should carefully assess whether their lifestyle, living situation and commitment level align with the requirements of the breed they are considering.
“If a prohibited breed is surrendered to a shelter, the law prevents the dog from being adopted, forcing it to spend the rest of its life in the shelter.
“This situation is unfair to the dog, as it deprives it of the chance to live in a loving home,” she said.
Choong lauded the city council’s efforts that aligned with a broader initiative to promote public safety and to maintain order, ensuring that responsible animal ownership would become a community practice.
Dog breeds such as Pit Bulls were originally bred in the 1800s for blood sports such as bull- and bear-baiting in the United States, and after being outlawed in 1835, breeders shifted their focus to dog fighting.
By the 1960s, a new trend emerged in urban America, where street gangs involved in drug trafficking began training pit bull-type dogs as guard dogs for protection.
