A RECENT video clip that portrayed several men from the Kulim Municipal Council (MPKK) rounding up and killing several stray dogs has went viral on social media recently.
The incident which allegedly took place in Taman Perak or Taman Sawi in Kulim, Kedah saw several men using two-pronged metal rods to hold the strays in place despite the animal’s cries of pain.
Facebook user Jagathiswran a/l Eelangovan who posted the video questioned the officers’ actions, claiming that only dogs were killed while snakes, tigers, monitor lizards and bears were caught and released back into the jungle.
“We have been seeing the same thing happening for more than 20 years. What have the dogs done wrong to deserve such treatment? They did not go into our houses to steal money or food, nor did they kill anyone or steal cars or use drugs,” he wrote.
According to another Facebook user who claimed to be Jagathiswran’s sister, Jagathiswran had tried to stop the officers from killing the dogs but was rudely brushed aside. In fact, an officer even told them, “Saya tau nak buat kerja saya, you jangan masuk campur!” (Don’t get in my way, I know how to do my job!”
Commenting on this incident, Malaysian Animal Welfare Association (MAWA) founder Mukunnan Sugumaran said that the incident should not have happened at all.
According to Mukunnan, a similar incident had happened in Seremban a few years ago, where the Seremban City Council used to capture dogs and put them to sleep on the spot.
“The act of putting them to sleep on the spot is not acceptable. The Government has pounds where they are supposed to hold the dogs for a specific period of time before they can take further action,” Mukunnan told FocusM.
“Killing them on the spot is not advisable simply because this is something that can be seen by children, and it can be a traumatising sight. Why is MPKK not working with local shelters in the district to come up with more humane ways of dealing with this matter?”
While numerous animal shelters around the country are currently bogged down with financial problems, Mukunnan went on to reassure the public that they would still be happy to find ways to support and help the stray dogs.
“So work with us, and work with the shelters to come up with more humane solutions because catching the strays and putting them to sleep on the spot isn’t the right answer.” – July 9, 2021
