I am glad the Star Metro is creating awareness on the animal cruelty that happens in Malaysia. And I am glad and grateful that SPCA takes action against those pet owners and help the poor animals. 

It seems to me that many Malaysians think having a pet is something of a trend. The dogs are bought and then just chucked aside or kept in cages where they would probably spend the rest of their lives. Sometimes they are fed and cleaned but only because they have been howling or stinking up the premises. 

Other times, a dog is abandoned by the “family” and whatever happens to it after that does not matter, just make sure it does not find its way home. 

I have heard so many stories like these it makes my stomach churn. What I do not understand is why people even bother keeping a pet when it clearly shows they hate the sight of it. 

Some people even brag about their dogs' pedigree lineage, and what do they do to their “perfect dogs?” They leave them in cages the same size as the dog, they show no affection to the pets whatsoever and whenever a relative or friend comes by, they will simply scoff at the mere mention of the dog and say something like, “It's a disaster. It smells. It pees. It shits. I don't want it.” 

I have encountered an owner such as that, in a woman whom my mother knows. My mother had told me that this woman owned two dogs, one of which was a small one kept caged. One day while we were having tea, the woman said she was sick of the dog and was glad it was gone. 

She went on to tell us how she and her husband, on the spur of the moment, decided to get a dog without an inkling of what a dog's needs are. They just decided to go “shopping” for a dog because they felt they needed a dog. 

She said they had set their eyes on another dog, a male, of the same breed but it was already sold. They bought the female dog instead. 

She said she regretted getting the female one because it was not as nice looking. Sure, it was cute as a puppy but now it was smelly, fat and aggressive. She hated the dog and never wanted to touch it. 

She had the dog for at least three years, and it was ignored completely by the whole family. Her children, probably from her influence, chimed in saying, “Yes, the dog smells, yes the dog is terrible.” 

The woman added that she wanted to get rid of the dog but no one wanted it because it was old. (The dog was three, and that is far from being old). 

After all that verbal bashing on the poor dog, she says she wants another dog, and starts to think of all the top breeds in trying to decide which will be the best. 

I was shocked out of my wits. It made me see that there are people who feel that animals are simply scum or possessions in no need of love or affection. 

A dog is not a Gucci handbag which you throw out after the style has gone out of season. 

A pet is a creature you have to take full responsibility of until the day it dies. Any animal you wish to label as your own is a responsibility. Consider it another child. Why can't people see that? Dogs are pretty much like children. It is a life you are responsible for. 

I wish that people would think before they do things. I can only wish and hope that people have some humanity in them. For those who do not want their pets, put them up for adoption as that would probably be the best thing to do. 

Finally, thank you SPCA for all the work you have done. 

I hope all goes well and the law against animal cruelty will be made firmer and taken a lot more seriously. And I hope that you will be able to find a way to teach pet owners and make them understand that they need to treat and love their animals properly. 

Brackish,
Subang Jaya.