Hear the calls for better animal welfare – and act, please

I HAVE been reading about the ongoing campaign by a coalition of animal welfare organisations to urge the government to amend the Animal Welfare Act 2015 after Kopi, a well-known stray dog in Terengganu, was shot dead during a culling ­operation by the Besut district council last year.

Just last month, animal rights activists from across Malaysia attended a candlelight vigil at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur to call for those responsible for Kopi’s death to be brought to justice.

In November last year, members of the coalition submitted a memorandum to MPs in Parliament appealing for the government to enact stricter ­animal protection laws, ensure humane treatment of stray dogs, and prohibit cruel methods of capture and killing.

On Monday, they went to Parliament to hand over the memorandum again, saying no action had been taken by the government since the first one was submitted, and that the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) was failing in its duties to protect stray animals.

It’s understandable why animal lovers are upset. It looks like the DVS is helpless in carrying out its duties, particularly when the culprits involved are government employees themselves.

Moreover, the local authorities, especially the unit involved in managing stray animals, also seem to have a poor understanding of the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2015.

Local councils are duty-bound to check the proliferation of stray animals to prevent unwanted incidents or outbreaks of zoonotic diseases that can pose a danger to the public.

However, local council staff, especially those in the stray management unit, are breaching standard operating ­procedures with how they ­handle strays.

The government should ­seriously consider the proposal to set up an independent animal welfare board under the Prime Minister’s Office, and also amend the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit cruel treatment of strays.

Membership of this board should include representatives from animal welfare NGOs, the police and media, among ­others.

I think a national animal welfare fund should also be set up to provide funding for animal welfare programmes, especially the trap, neuter, vaccinate and release programme.

S. PARAM

Ipoh