Better protection for all creatures great and small

Better protection for all creatures great and small Given the horrendous treatment of animals being reported in the media in recent times, there is a pressing need for the Bill to be passed ASAP. When Sheena was rescued by the Department of Veterinary Services and the SPCA, the dog had to be immediately euthanised due to complications from severe malnutrition. The Government's initiatives in strengthening the rules on animal welfare should be applauded but certain warts within the system must also be looked into. Chua's ministry must also address the hiring of canine bounty hunting companies by local councils to carry out dog catching on their behalf. The dogs allegedly undergo a large amount of torture while being caught and transported to pounds before they are put down with lethal injection. Many animal activists claim that local councils are the biggest abusers of dogs that they catch. Many allegations, ranging from harassment of dog owners and dog-napping, have been made against these companies. Under proposed amendments, anyone found guilty of abusing animals can be fined up to RM50,000 or jailed for a year or both. The current penalty is only a maximum fine of RM200 or a jail term of not more than six months, or both. The biggest victims of animal cruelty and abuse here are dogs, which lead a precarious existence in our society. The proposed legislation must also address pet shops which animal activists say have become a place for backyard breeders. Animal activists and rescue groups are urging for the more humane method of stray control, called Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage (TNRM) instead of culling. It is the inadequacy of the Act that led to an engineer "strolling" away with a RM100 fine imposed by a magistrate in 2005 in spite of his admission that he neglected his German Shepherd Sheena. Recently, a hawker in Section 17, Petaling Jaya, found himself in trouble after scalding a stray dog with boiling water. Perhaps the Bill can include the necessity for the local councils to look into the TNRM system in contrast to immediately reaching out for the syringe as a great solution. He has since been interviewed by the DVS. Any new law or amendment to an existing one will be pointless if the Attorney-General's Chambers does not see the necessity of prosecuting animal abuse cases. Better protection for all creatures great and small Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 25/04/2012