Animal lovers want offenders to pay heavily
Metro, 27 Sept 2005

WHILE most pet owners vary in the severity of their proposed fines and sentences, all agree that it is time the ordinance is revised.  

They also agree that education on animal care and welfare will reduce cases of animal cruelties.  

Pet owner Lucy Lian, 66, from Damansara Heights, said the current fine was unfair towards animals.  

Ill-treating a pet, said Lian, was like ill-treating a person, only worse as the animals could not complain about their sufferings. 

“If a person mistreats another, like a maid, he or she gets a hefty fine and a jail term,’’ said Lian. “So the same sentence must apply in animal’s cases.”  

Lian, who has a golden retriever and a cat suggested that a RM5,000 fine would be good based on today’s economic situation. She said part of the fine should go towards an animal welfare organization.  

Lian said high medical treatment was one of the contributing factors on why animals are ill-treated.  

“It then gets abandoned by irresponsible owners.’’  

Owner of two Labradors, Adrian Nathan, 21, from Selayang said RM200 fine left no impact in present-day situation.  

Nathan said pets looked toward humans for their basic needs. “And, abusing them was inhumane,’’ he said, adding that the six-month jail term was good, but the fine ought to be more than RM5,000. 

“Offenders must be strictly dealt with so that they and others will learn a lesson.’’   re safe and cared-for properly.  

Four-year-old Doberman, Adolf, may be kept in a kennel most of the time but the dog is well maintained with a clean environment, enough space and good food.  

Its owner Louise Angeline Mary, 55, said owners could keep dogs in kennels as long as they we

“But sometimes, some owners tend to neglect them,’’ she said. “Going for days with no food and water, medication or relief time, is abuse.’’ 

Louise said offenders got away with a light penalty. “It is time for a change in the punishment.’’  

Animal lover, V. Prasad, 32, from Old Klang Road, said the ordinance needed immediate revision.  

He said some dog owners treated the animals as a cheap form of security system. “Some even abused them deliberately to make them fiercer,’’ he added. 

Prasad said some owners were so irresponsible that they looked to pets as punching bags and means of amusement. “They sometimes run over cats for the fun of it,’’ he said, adding that these offenders ought to be given harsher jail terms and fines of up to RM10,000.  

“What is RM200 today?’’