Penalty ‘a slap in the wrist’
By JAYAGANDI JAYARAJ
Metro, 27 Sept 2005

LAST December, 39-year-old Yap Quan Lan was jailed three days and fined RM200 for abusing her pet dog.  

The businesswoman had ill-treated her dog at her house in Kepong. She did not care for it nor provide medication when it was injured.  

Following complaints from passers-by, the Kuala Lumpur Veterinary Department and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) found the traumatized dog tied outside the compound of Yap’s house. It had no shelter from rain or sun for about a month. 

The dog bore a large scar due to scalding on the right hip.  

In another case, in Dec 2003, the department confiscated 16 K-9 dogs (Alsatian) from a widow who had mistreated the canines and neglected them.  

Suselah Arjunan, from Rawang, had wanted to breed dogs for sale. But, the animals were found in deplorable living conditions. The dogs suffered from malnutrition and the kennels were filthy.  

The dogs were emaciated and badly infested with ticks while their living area was infested with flies.  

After surrendering the dogs to SPCA, Suselah admitted to having little knowledge in dog breeding, kennel management and animal welfare. Added to these, she also faced financial problems and was in poor health.  

The SPCA waived the RM4,520 in maintenance and medication costs.  

In both the cases, the abusers were let off the hook with a minimal fine.  

Department enforcement unit head Zainuddin Isma Yatim said 116 cases of cruelty to animals were reported this year alone. Last year there were only 33 cases.  

He said the increase was due to lack of awareness in caring for pets.  

“Most of the cases involved improper shelter and medical care when a pet was sick,’’ said Zainuddin. “Some involved torture, with no food or drink, and abandoning the animals.”  

Those found guilty under the Animals Ordinance 1953 are only liable for a RM200 fine, imprisonment for six months, or both.  

“The penalty is lenient. No one has been imprisoned for six months so far,” said SPCA animal inspector Sabrina Yeap. “It’s one of the reasons why the abuse is on the rise.’’ 

Lobbying for a higher penalty, SPCA Selangor has embarked on a signature campaign that it wants to present to Prime Minster Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Since July last year, it has garnered 20,000 signatures from residents of Selangor alone. 

Even animal welfare organizations from the United States and United Kingdom lent support to the campaign through their embassies in Kuala Lumpur. 

“We plan to gather at least 100,000 signatures from across the country,” said Yeap. 

She said, currently, the Veterinary Department enforcement unit was in charge of drafting out the ordinance’s amendments.  

“The ordinance is obsolete and did not suit present-day situations,’’ she added. “The fine ought to be RM10,000 and the jail term increased.’’  

Yeap said abusers should also be given a lifetime ban on owning pets.  

Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Hawari Hussein said public awareness and education on pet care were important in reducing abuse cases.  

“Amendments to the ordinance is one thing, but education is most important.''  

SPCA is urging volunteers to help distribute the signature forms. The campaign will end in a year’s time. To obtain the forms, call 03-4256 5312/ 4253 5179.  

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