Dog licence ruling has its drawbacks
Metro, 5 Oct 2005

The Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) is requiring compulsory training of dogs before dog licences can be renewed. I may not be under the council’s jurisdiction, but I wish to give my views on the matter.  

Two of my dogs, aged three and four years old respectively, have undergone and passed the Malaysian Kennel Association’s (MKA) Good Canine Citizen (GCC) programme when they were puppies.  

We’ve found the programme very useful and fun.  

I feel many dog owners will find such programmes beneficial, especially for owner-dog bonding.  

However, I am opposed to making the GCC a prerequisite for licence renewal.  

My oldest dog is more than 10 years old and she is less mobile because of her age. But she is a very faithful, loyal and obedient dog, and I ensure she’s vaccinated and licensed every year.

If the GCC requirement were imposed, I doubt she will be able to go through the course and, thus, I would not be able to renew her licence.  

What then do I do with her? Is the council trying to discourage dog owners from renewing their dog licences?  

Dog owners who are irresponsible in the first place will not bother taking their dogs for the training. This will result in many more unlicensed dogs.  

I hope the MPSJ and other councils take this into account before imposing such a rule.  

There are other ways to encourage responsible dog ownership.    

Joey Sze