Act against the enforcement officers

I REFER to the article, “Ops to catch stray dogs put on hold” (The Star, June 12).

It is only proper that the Johor Bahru Tengah Municipal Council (MPJBT) put a stop to catching strays pending a full review of the manner in which the strays are caught and the animals are put down.

The way the strays were bludgeoned to death at the back of a warehouse by enforcement personnel of the local authority concerned had resulted in a public outcry over the cruelty in the putting down of the animals.

The manner of killing the strays was barbaric and it is totally unacceptable.

I am not disputing the fact that the local authority has a responsibility to catch strays based on public complaints and that it has the right to put aggressive animals to sleep as a last resort.

What I am totally against is the cruel and inhumane manner exercised by the enforcement personnel concerned in putting down the animals.

I am not only directing my comment to MPJBT alone but all other local authorities over the matter concerning cruelty to animals.

I wish to suggest that before putting down any stray animal, the local authority concerned must consult the Veterinary Services Department in the respective state on the best course of action to be taken as it is the authority on the subject of animal welfare.

While the MPJBT president must be applauded for admitting that the inhumane killings of the strays was a mistake, what he should do is to take appropriate action against the enforcement officer concerned.

He must not get away scot-free after having committed an act of extreme cruelty against a living creature.

The person responsible for committing the act of cruelty against the animal should be charged under the Animal (Amendment) Act 2013 or under Sections 428 and 429 of the Penal Code for mischief against animals.

TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE

Kuala Lumpur