It’s all about training your pets

Instead of restricting ownership, the focus should be on monitoring dogs and educating owners.

MAN’S best friend seems to be getting a bad rep in Malacca.

There was a huge uproar over the state’s recent move to ban ownership of dogs in intermediate terrace homes. Dog lovers around the country were outraged at the state government’s myopic view on pet ownership and the resulting online campaign to protest this decision garnered more than 30,000 signatures.

Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron ordered the city council not to enforce the ruling pending a final decision at the state executive council meeting next Wednesday.

Actually, this knee-jerk reaction from the Malacca City Council appears to be a result of complaints from homeowners over incessant barking, unruly canines and cleanliness issues.

Ironically, the council has approved 3,013 applications for dog licences this year and only rejected a handful, making it all the more perplexing then that it should issue this blanket ban on dog ownership.

At RM50 per dog licence, the council has made a hefty RM150,000. How are these monies utilised?

Wouldn’t it make better sense to use these funds to focus on responsible pet ownership, monitoring the dogs and educating the owners, rather than issuing a blanket ban?

Ownership of dogs varies from state to state in our country, and there are even differing rulings at the local council level. For example, the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) does not issue licences for flat and apartment owners wanting to keep dogs as pets.

“This matter has been stipulated under the MBJB Bylaws 1995 (Undang-Undang Kecil MBJB) and I urge owners to adhere to the laws,” Johor Baru Mayor A. Rahim Nin said, adding that this ruling was implemented to respect other residents in the neighbourhood, especially in terms of safety, cleanliness and noise disturbance.

Similar local by-laws are in effect in Petaling Jaya and Shah Alam. The Petaling Jaya City Council only allows two dogs per terrace house depending on the floor space. If there is a complaint, the council would first issue a warning to the dog owner. If the problem persists, the council would bring the matter to court.

However, a colleague of mine who lives in PJ said his neighbour was clearly in violation of the “two dog” ruling.

“My neighbour has seven dogs! When I complained to the council, all they did was visit him and give him a warning,” he told me, adding that the matter had not been brought to court.

If you live in Shah Alam and intend to keep a dog, you must first obtain consent from your immediate neighbours. Only then will you be given a licence and even then, you are restricted to one dog per terrace home.

The Shah Alam ruling has been in force for the last two years and is necessary because, as MBSA deputy corporate communications director Shahrin Ahmad puts it, “consent is vital to preserve ties in the community”.

He said there had been no issues with the ruling thus far and even if owners failed to get consent from their neighbours, they could submit an appeal letter to MBSA’s Licensing and Enforcement Department.

As a lifelong fan of canines, I can sympathise with dog lovers who feel their rights are being denied when local authorities come out with legislation that restricts and, in a worst-case scenario, bans ownership of dogs.

However, I empathise with neighbours who are constantly awoken by the incessant barking of neighbourhood dogs or those who feel the need to tread carefully for fear of stepping on faeces.

On a separate note, I think it’s cruel to keep a dog, no matter how small, in a condominium. I am also disappointed that this rule does not apply for cats. Why the discrimination?

Ultimately, the decision to keep a pet, be it a fish, tortoise, rabbit or a cow, comes with responsibilities. And herein lies the problem because many dog owners fail to realise this.

The problem in Malaysia is that many pet owners are either oblivious to, or outrightly shirk, the responsibilities that come with owning a dog, such as picking up and disposing of faeces, maintaining the cleanliness of the dog, and training it.

Another problem is the way in which Asian communities view and provide for their dogs. Some still view dogs as merely a security guard with four legs.

A dog tied to the fences is a common sight in Malaysia. This is tantamount to animal abuse, especially when the animal is left out to brave the elements, be it rain or shine.

This, obviously, will result in the animal barking incessantly, causing distress to neighbours. And this results in complaints, which then lead to actions taken by the authorities. Do you see the pattern here?

This is not saying all dog owners are irresponsible. This aims to underline that all parties have a role to play; that there’s much room for improvement in the way we treat animals.

I like the idea of animal welfare education. Perhaps, what we need is to nip this in the bud and start from basics – teaching our young ones how to respect and love animals.

Meanwhile, let’s all be calm and find a win-win situation – both for animals and humans.