Facing the law: Yee pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable steps to ensure that the needs of his dog were fulfilled. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: The owner of a dog, that was hit by his neighbour, has been fined RM15,000 by the Ampang Sessions Court here for failing to take care of the animal’s welfare.
Sessions Court judge Wan Mohd Norisham Wan Yaakob meted out the sentence on Yee Chan Fai, 37, after he pleaded guilty to failing to take reasonable steps to ensure that the needs of the animal were fulfilled, until the animal was injured at a house in Taman Saga, at 9am on May 24, 2022.
Yee, who worked as a mechanic, was charged under Section 24 (1)(a)(v) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, punishable under Section 24 (3) of the same Act.
The law provides for a minimum RM15,000 fine and up to RM75,000 or a maximum of two years in jail or both, upon conviction.
The court also ordered Yee to serve three months in jail if he fails to pay the fine.
Before passing the sentence, Wan Mohd Norisham said that as an animal owner, Yee should have put his dog on a leash within his home compound to prevent it from hurting people.
“Animals cannot talk. You are not supposed to abuse and neglect it. The dog is yours, yet you left the gates open until it ran out and injured other people.
“In this case, the complainant is the victim who got hurt by the dog. The victim also suffered losses when he had to pay fines (for hurting the dog). The dog ended up injured because of your negligence,” Wan Mohd Norisham said here yesterday.
Prosecuting officer from the Selangor Veterinary Services Department, Mohd Sharif Sabran, asked the court to mete out a heavy sentence against Yee on the grounds of public interest and to serve as a lesson to other dog owners.
“The complainant had been fined RM23,000 for hitting the dog. That does not include his legal fees and his medical costs. I ask the court to consider this factor,” Mohd Sharif said.
Lawyer Wan Nur Afifah Che Bakar, who represented Yee, however, asked for a lenient sentence as her client had to support his parents, sister and two children aged six and eight.
“Yee had never been convicted before. He is remorseful and promises not to repeat the mistake,” she said.
