Onus is on owners
The Star, 6 Sept 2005

We refer to the letter Two Sides of a Story by Dog Sense III (Speaking Up, Aug 23). 

We are surprised at the lack of knowledge and understanding on ownership of pets, particularly dogs. We don’t understand the irrational fear of dogs, labelling the animals as “potential killers and terrorists” to children. 

Many of us are parents of little children, the elderly and the disabled who feel totally safe with our beloved pets who act as their guardian carers. 

As a protem group that was set up recently by a group of professionals and non-professionals in the Klang Valley as a response to all the current misunderstanding regarding dogs, we strongly feel that education is a must on why people own pet dogs and have a great relationship with them for their immense usefulness in our society. 

First, let us put right some of the unfair remarks cited by the writer on the role of pet dogs in our society: 

“Dogs are extremely noisy.”  
Dogs generally bark to promote security when there are potential intruders around.  As  a  result they help

to reduce our crime rates and keep potential robbers and killers at bay. 

If dogs bark at passing cats or dogs, then it is essential to have a ruling for cat and dog owners to ensure that their pets are indoors and not allowed to roam the streets and become a nuisance to everybody.  

Many of us live in neighbourhoods that have many dogs and are still able to sleep soundly at night, safe in the knowledge that our pets are keeping watch over us. 

Noise pollution can come from all sources – loud music in the middle of the night, the “love cry” of cats when they are in heat, etc. Thus it all boils down to irresponsible neighbours and not the canines themselves. 

“Dogs are smelly.”  
This is only true of some dogs. Just as not all humans have body odour, dogs – like all of God’s creatures– deserve the same respect that we show to our fellowmen. 

If there is a problem, it could mean that the dog is sick or the owner has not been looking into his pet’s grooming needs.  Again,  the  problem  reflects on

the irresponsible owners and not the canines. 

“Dogs are scary.”  
Fear of rats, lizards, cockroaches, water, crowds, etc, if they are irrational and disabling, reflects a phobia problem and it is best for the affected individual to seek professional help in overcoming the condition. 

“Dogs are not sanitary.”  
It is not only dogs that can leave poop in a neighbour’s surrounding; cats and other animals do that too. Again, it reflects on the owners for allowing such behaviour to take place and not the animals. 

Toh Cheng See, Protem Secretary, Malaysians for Responsible Pet Ownership (Marpo), Petaling Jaya