A WEEK ago, a man dropped off a cardboard box containing a cat and three kittens at my animal hospital and drove off. I have seen such a heartless act many times in my 40-year career as a veterinarian. It saddens me that some people treat this hospital as a dumping ground for pets they no longer want. To date, we have taken care of hundreds of cats and dogs that were either strays or abandoned.
Under Malaysia’s Animal Welfare Act 2015, abandoning a pet is a crime; upon conviction, an offender is liable to be fined between RM20,000 and RM100,000 or be imprisoned for a term of not more than three years, or both.