NETIZENS and animal advocacy groups have called on the government to introduce more humane procedures for the handling of strays in the country.
This follows a recent report in the New Straits Times of dead and decomposing dog carcasses in a four-foot-deep pit in the Manjung district, Sitiawan, Perak.
The act was allegedly carried out by municipal officers, entrusted with catching strays.
"There should be an urgent and immediate investigation into how such an inhumane act could have been committed.
"Those responsible must be held accountable," said netizens.
In one of the videos, a man was heard saying that two of the puppies were still alive when they were “chucked into the hole” with their dead mother.
Netizens called on the relevant authorities to ensure action is taken and not simply shift the blame from one party to another.
"Of late, there have been too many reports on the senseless and brutal killing of dogs and cats.
"This must be stopped and those responsible must be held accountable to serve as a lesson to others," they said.
Meanwhile, Kalaivanan Ravichandran, president of Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia, told FMT that humane practices should be incorporated into the new standard procedure.
“We want a new procedure standardised all over Malaysia because, as you know, each local authority has its laws in dealing with stray animals,” he said.
He said some local councils still practise cruel ways in handling strays, while others have improved their ways after meetings with animal rights organisations.
Just last month, 13 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) demanded action by the veterinary services department against municipal officers who killed stray dogs, following the culling of a stray dog named Kopi in Besut, Terengganu. - November 9, 2024
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