Four-legged friends: Yim says dead dogs have been found around the Island Glades area since March.
GEORGE TOWN: Animal lovers have been warned of a dog killer believed to be on the prowl in Island Glades here following the death of 29 strays over the past month.
Animal lover David Yim said that on Sunday alone, four dogs were found dead and another one yesterday. Plastic bags of food believed to be poisoned were near the carcasses, he added.
“Several dog feeders have lodged reports with the police and state Veterinary Services Department. I hope they will investigate thoroughly and take action against the dog killer.
“The killing started in March when a house owner found his pet dog dead in the compound but he did not think much of it until he heard from his neighbours, who fed strays, about the numerous dead dogs in the area,” he said.
Yim said not only dogs were affected as birds had also died after eating the poisoned food.
He added that the Animal Welfare Act 2015 had specific sections dealing with these offences, namely Section 29 (pertaining to animal cruelty), Section 30 (killing of animals) and Section 31 (administration of poisons).
“Any person found guilty (of an offence under the Act) can be fined not less than RM20,000, with the maximum fine being RM100,000, or face a maximum three years’ jail, or both,” he said.
He added that he did not understand why anyone would want to do such a cruel thing as the dogs had not hurt anyone.
“The dead dogs have been neutered or spayed under the Penang Island City Council’s ‘Trap, Neuter and Release’ programme, where all captured dogs are neutered and vaccinated against rabies before being released.”
Yim added that dogs provide humans with companionship and love, and should not be treated this way as they were also used for search and rescue operations.
In Johor, meanwhile, an 18-year-old, who was seen abusing dogs by striking them and even lighting one on fire in viral videos, came forward to make a public apology on March 31. In a 45-second video posted under Facebook username Braden Yap, the youth admitted what he had done was wrong and hoped that the public could give him a second chance.
“I understand no matter how I explain, I should not have done that. I admit that it was my mistake and regret it,” he said in the video.
