I acted on impulse to protect my kids, says man who arrowed dog

PETALING JAYA: The man who wounded a stray dog with two arrows in his neighbourhood at Balakong, near here, said he acted on impulse to protect his three children.

“It was an instinctive move. The dog appeared scary and it wasn’t like other strays. At least that’s what it seemed to me,” he said when met yesterday at his home in Taman Sinaran, Taming Jaya.

The police questioned the man on Wednesday and seized his bow and arrows.

He is liable to be charged with mischief for maiming the animal under Section 429 of the Penal Code.

He is also being investigated under Section 6(1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958 for carrying an offensive weapon in public spaces.

Recalling the Tuesday incident, the man, whose children are aged four, five and seven, said it was around 8.30pm when he heard the dog barking and making its way to his driveway.

Animal activists who later rushed the dog to a veterinary clinic for first aid said it was an old, partially blind Rottweiler.

The man had earlier picked up some books and threw them at the dog to frighten it away.

However, he said the dog seemed undeterred and began barking aggressively.

“I thought only about the children. In a moment of panic, I took the bow and fired the arrows,” he said.

One arrow lodged in its front leg and the other hit the dog’s back.

Unlucky dog: Policemen assessing Brianna’s condition with the help of a veterinarian at the clinic in Subang Jaya.

“We’ve never had problems with dogs. I even have five dogs at my fruit farm,” he said.

“I apologise for my action. I didn’t know the dog was blind. I had never shot a dog. It’s a sin,” he said.

Animal activist group Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) has adopted the canine, which is now recovering at a veterinary clinic in Subang Jaya. It has been given the name Brianna.

MDDB project manager Melinda Joy Gomez said the dog was severely anemic and may suffer from tick fever.

The veterinarian at the clinic said Brianna had been given medication but it was in poor health.

“Our priority is saving her, but her blood volume is currently a quarter of a dog’s normal blood level. If it drops further, we will need to perform a blood transfusion,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Ab Rashid Ab Wahad said that while it is legal to have bows and arrows at home for decorative purposes, it is illegal to bring them out in public.

“Only individuals with valid membership of archery associations or clubs are allowed to go out in public with the sports gear.

“Even so, members are only allowed to carry the gear in public if they are heading to and from the archery grounds,” he said.