Handout photo of two of Mumu’s puppies.
KUCHING (June 28): An integrated dog catching operation on June 18 here has caused anxiety among several animal protection groups because a female dog named Mumu and its puppies had been put to sleep (PTS).
A netizen named Faye Sara even started a petition to get 10,000 signatures in these groups’ effort to improve public awareness on prevention of cruelty against animal apart from campaigning to get the alleged perpetrators punished.
The petition has been posted on at least two Facebook accounts, namely Sarawak Public Feedback and S.O.S Save Our Strays Kuching, complete with photographs and a video grab of the incident.
PAWS of Hope Malaysia has put on Instagram the short video showing a man walking out of the house gate and boarding a van loaded with animal cages.
Also two police reports were lodged over the June 18 incident that occurred in Taman Greenwood at Batu 9 along Jalan Kuching-Serian here where Mumu and its six puppies were confiscated by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) which worked closely with Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) then.
When confirming that there was such a case on Saturday night, State Police chief Dato Aidi Ismail said a DVS officer had indeed lodged a police report that the DVS was holding the integrated anti-rabies operation and in the process took away the dog and puppies for their further probe and action.
While the animals protection groups, on behalf of the dog owner, alleged that the DVS was oppressive towards her in the manner they had handled the dog catching operation, the DVS justified their actions that they followed the laws pertaining to the prevention and control of rabies spread.
According to Cynn Ying, the daughter of the dog owner, she and her family members were distraught by the incident.
They are now seeking justice and had lodged a police report apart from considering the option to sue authorities for miscarriage of justice or negligence.
She claimed Mumu and its six puppies were killed on the same day and the DVS did not even wait for the expiry of 48 hours for them to claim before putting them to sleep.
“We want justice. We want a declaration of the perimeters of the by-laws properly defined. We want a SOP declaration for future reference to protect fellow citizens from ‘Gestapo’ tactics from men in uniforms,” said Ying, adding that Mumu was vaccinated and DVS left behind two puppies at their home.
“My family was distraught and totally shaken by this incident. There was no respect on sanctity of life or pet ownership,” she added.
“The dog and puppies belonged to us. They were not strays,” she said claiming the DVS or MPKS has no right in removing them from their home without consent.
“Snatching Mumu and six puppies constitutes theft. No warrant was produced. How can a government servant and his task force operate with impunity in the name of rabies on six puppies who barely opened their eyes?
“How can ‘strangers’ barge into our home at the height of MCO? Did they flout the SOP of the MCO? Is the operation of ‘catching strays’ part of essential services during MCO?” Ying asked.
“One of DVS’ functions is to protect animals from abuse. The irony is obvious. They are now the perpetrators of abuse. The public and netizens are still reeling in shock. Our lawyers will address these point by point in court,” Ying lamented.
When contacted over the case yesterday, State DVS director Dr Adrian Susin Ambud claimed the person who took the video and posted it on social media was giving false information and therefore, a police report had been made.
Dr Adrian explained the law on preventing and controlling rabies spread had allowed them to take action against dog owners who failed to get their dog vaccinated, especially when they are within gazetted rabies infected areas.
“The mother dog was not vaccinated, together with the six two-month-old puppies and this is an offence,” he said, adding two male puppies were returned to the owner after they made an appeal.
On another question, Dr Adrian explained that there was no incentive on catching stray dogs because “… we don’t want (any) NGO outrage or public outcry.”
“We (only) do targeted removal of dogs only,” he explained.
“For sampling, we ‘PTS’ it (Mumu) straight away. The 48 hours (requirement) is (only) for rabies free area,” he said when asked if there was reasonable time provided before the dog was put to sleep.
“As Kuching is an infected area therefore 48 hours requirement did not apply. Due to the (existing) MCO our operation is more on targeted removal,” he stressed.