|
AS
animal lovers, my wife and I were very sad to see the picture of
the Persian cat in such a deplorable condition (NST, Oct 29).
As we have the same
breed of cat, we are appalled by the state of affairs described
in the papers.
To prevent such abuse of animals, I propose the following
measures:
• Review the scale of punishment under the Animal Ordinance 1953
to make it more severe;
• Revamp and update the present Animal Ordinance;
• Animal breeders must be licensed and their license withdrawn
if they mistreat animals;
• The Veterinary Services Department must carry out health due
diligence before licenses are approved;
• The department must periodically check all breeders’ premises;
• As a back-up, bodies like the SPCA must be given the authority
to check animal breeders and private homes on receiving
complaints;
• Set up an emergency line for the public to report any animal
mistreatment.
To Rashid and other animal abusers, I quote a poem by an
anonymous writer:
A man of kindness to his beast is kind
A brutal action shows a brutal mind
Remember, He gave thee speech and formed him mute
He can’t complain, but God’s all-seeing eye
Behold the cruelty and hears his cry
He was designed thy servant not thy drudge
Remember thy Creator is thy judge.
DATUK NORDIN
YUSOF
Subang Jaya |
Keep promise
IT is heartening to note that the Veterinary Services Department
has of late been tough with animal abusers.
Those who subject animals to cruelty should not be allowed to go
scot-free in a civilized society.
However, we are not going to achieve anything if the archaic
1953 Animal Ordinance is not amended to include stiff penalties
for those guilty of cruelty to animals.
Every time issues of animal cruelty are raised, the Veterinary
Services Department is quick to promise that it will look into
amending the Animal Ordinance.
It is now more than 15 years since the previous director-general
last promised the public that the amended Animal Ordinance
(Veterinary Act) was in the final stages.
We hear again of another promise. Will the department keep its
promise this time around?
S.P.
Ipoh |
