LETTER FROM THE MAYHEW

A very big thank you to James Hogan of the Mayhew Animal Home for writing this letter....

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Extracted from The Star 18 November 2008

Also published in MalaysiaKini

Tuesday November 18, 2008

Many complaints about KL’s dog catchers

I WOULD like to comment on the recent report of alleged cruel treatment of a stray dog by a team of dog catchers employed by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council but I would first like to explain why an international animal welfare organisation has taken an interest in this issue.

The Mayhew Animal Home & Humane Education Centre has been rescuing and caring for abandoned and unwanted animals in London since 1886 and today our work extends to places as far as Afghanistan, Russia, Romania and Algeria, where we advise city governments, provide special training for veterinarians and animal management personnel and promote best practice across a wide spectrum of animal welfare activity.

We have a network of contacts across the globe and in recent times we have received an increasing number of disturbing reports from Malaysia about the treatment of animals there, especially stray companion animals.

The latest report we have received from Kuala Lumpur is about the dog who was allegedly beaten and injured as he was apparently forced through the railings of a locked gate by dog catchers working for the Subang Jaya Municipal Council.

This is not the first time that concerns about KL’s dog catchers have been brought to our attention.

Apart from the complaints of local animal welfare activists in KL, we have also received a number of critical independent reports from contacts in Europe and Asia after they had visited Kuala Lumpur on business or as tourists.

The concerns raised include the excessively rough methods used by the dog catchers and the primitive conditions observed at the local dog pounds. From a purely professional point of view, I would be interested to know what selection procedures are applied when local councils recruit staff to carry out this work and, crucially, what level of training is provided?

Malaysia is a successful country that thrives on international commerce, tourism and the financial sector and has a right to be proud of its achievements in a fiercely competitive world.
However, Malaysia’s image abroad is in danger of being tarnished by the negative impressions left with visitors to Kuala Lumpur when they witness stray companion animals being treated without respect or compassion, especially when this is done by the very people officially responsible for them.

The Kuala Lumpur Tourism Action Council website waxes lyrical about the joys of visiting KL, exclaiming: “KL offers a wholly unique experience to visitors.”

As someone who has a great affection for Malaysia and its people, I am sad to say that the individuals who contact us about distressing animal welfare issues after they have visited KL make it very clear that they have had “a unique experience” that is very far removed from the image projected by the Tourism Action Council and is most assuredly one they do not wish to repeat.

JAMES HOGAN,
International Department
Mayhew Animal Home &
Humane Education Centre, London.

The Councils are at it again...

Hi all...

Another quick note...

I would like to urge everyone to once again write in to the press and voice your concern for the animals, esp in relation to my previous post... Here's a list of addresses that you can write to. Please remember to include your name and contact details. If you wish to remain anonymus, indicate that in your letter.

editor@thestar.com.my
letters@nstp.com.my
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
editor@malaysiakini.com
editorial@sinchew.com.my
bhnews@bharian.com.my
news@nstp.com.my
metro@thestar.com.my
pengarang@utusan.com
editor@nanyang.com.my
tcpb@po.jaring.my
mmnews@nstp.com.my
am@hmetro.com.my
gmkl@guangming.com.my
bgns@bernama.com

Thanks guys...

WHY????

I am very disturbed to have read this in the news today... I wish I could write more, but I am currently overwhelmed with some personal emergency... I, am however, urging everyone else to please help put a stop to all this unecessary cruelty in Malaysia...

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Extracted from The Star; Nov 10, 2008
Dog catchers acted cruelly, alleges rescuer
By WANI MUTHIAH

In pain: The dog with one of its ears injured after the ordeal.

INDEPENDENT stray dog rescuer Amy Foo had the shock of her life recently as she was taking a leisurely morning stroll near her home in Bandar Kinrara, Puchong.

Foo, 32, alleges that she saw a group of five men, several of them in Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) uniform, beating a dog and forcing it out through the railings of a locked gate.

“I heard a dog yelping in pain as I was taking my walk, and went to investigate what was going on.

“What I saw made my blood turn cold as several of the men had climbed over the gate into the premises of the locked empty house and were hitting a dog which had taken shelter there,” she said.

Since the gate was locked, the men proceeded to drag the medium-sized dog out through the narrow railings of the gate, she alleged.

“The railings began to graze and cut the dog in the mouth and ear region and there was a lot of blood, and the frightened dog was screaming in pain,” alleged Foo tearfully.

Foo said she approached the men who scolded her for interfering and threatened to compound her for obstructing them.

“They also began to use more force on the poor dog after I had approached them,” alleged Foo, who added that she believed that the dog was not a stray as it was wearing a collar chain.

Distraught and not knowing what to do, Foo contacted several other independent dog rescuers, who immediately called Selangor executive councillor in charge of local councils Ronnie Liu, who advised them to lodge a police report.

Foo lodged a report at the Puchong police station and rushed to the MPSJ dog pound located not very far from the area.

“What I saw there only depressed me further as the dog was locked up in the pound, bleeding and in pain,’’ alleged Foo.

When contacted, MPSJ president Datuk Adnan Md Ikshan said he would look into the matter as well as speak to the relevant officers.

Meanwhile, Foo and several other independent rescuers are working towards getting the injured dog out of the MPSJ dog pound in Puchong to send it for treatment.

Said one of the rescuers, Leigh Chen, who had rushed with Foo to look for the dog at the pound after it had been brought there: “This dog has undergone a traumatic and merciless ordeal at the hands of the council dog catchers.

“Given this, it is only fair that this unfortunate dog be given a chance to live the rest of its canine life in a loving home after it has been treated for its gruesome injuries.”

Chen added that she hoped municipal council dog catchers and their appointed agents would not resort to cruelty when capturing strays.

“We, the animal rescuers, plead with those who deal with strays to do their job with a sense of compassion coupled with the realisation that animals, too, know fear and pain, just like us human beings,” added Chen.

Those interested in sponsoring the injured dog’s treatment or adopting it can write to malaysiandogsdeservebetter@gmail.com