BOTH parties in the controversial issue involving a senior citizen and Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) dog catchers have agreed to withdraw the matter.
"Both parties met. We shook hands," mayor Mohamad Azhan Md Amir told StarMetro after the full board meeting Friday (June 23) afternoon.
"The officers and the senior citizen met too and both parties agreed to withdraw the case.
"We told the uncle we will also improve in our ways,” he added.
ALSO READ: Senior citizen lodges police report against MBPJ dog catchers
The mayor said the council also invited 26 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to exchange knowledge on how to catch dogs and other good animal-handling practices.
The mayor said the incident was a learning process for all parties as the council is committed to managing strays better.
“We want to work with the NGOs. The 'trap, neuter, release and manage' approach for strays, with help from the NGOs and public, is the way to go,” he said.
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"If the dogs are aggressive we will need to tame them through certain training methods,” he added.
In March, it was reported that MBPJ officers allegedly treated a senior citizen roughly during a dog-catching operation at Jalan 18/17 in Taman Kanagapuram.
Patrick Khoo, 69, who owns and manages a lubricant supply company, claimed an officer had swiped a dog-catching loop against the left side of his face during a tussle over a dog at about 9pm on March 22.
ALSO READ: Senior citizen charged with obstructing civil servant in operation to catch stray dogs
Khoo lodged a police report at the Brickfields district police headquarters on Friday (March 24).
It was also reported that he was being investigated by police for preventing the MBPJ officers from doing their jobs and subsequently charged in court.
