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MPS President Yang Dipertua Dato' Zainal Step in - MPS Dog Pound
2nd Apr Pet+Newsflash

You can now expect to witness a significant difference in how the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) treats animals and issues related to them within its vicinity. The first of the big changes can be seen as early as next month.

MPS will be the setting up a special committee to deal with issues of dogs and other animals under its care. This decision was reached this afternoon at a special inaugural meeting at the MPS headquarters in Menara MPS in Bandar Baru Selayang. It was chaired by the Yang DiPertua of MPS, Dato Zainal Abidin Azim.

Two municipal councillors Mr Gunarajah George and Dr Ramli Jusoh (a retired veterinarian) were also present at the meeting. They were selected to head the special committee. The others there were made up of Dr Razif Zainol Abidin, Head of Health and Licensing.

Representatives also included the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) in Gombak, Selangor and Putrajaya. Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) and Majlis Perbandaran Klang (MPK)'s Canine Advisory Team Chairman and President of PET+ Anthony Thanasayan was also at the meeting. Thanasayan received a special invitation by the Selayang Council.

He told PET+BLOGSPOT that he was also asked to attend the meeting by Dr Xavier Jayakumar who has been following developments in the various pounds in Selangor with keen interest. Dr Jayakumar is the Chairman of Health, Plantation Workers, The Poor and Caring Government in the state of Selangor.

A number of positive changes that residents in Selayang - and its animals can expect - once after the formation of the committee is as follows:

•Special training in dog-catching to be coordinated by Dr Jayakumar's office. Help will also come from the DVS and MBPJ's canine-catching unit.

•Skills training in pound management from the abovementioned sources and MPK.

•A gradual change of all outside staff to full MPS personnel in canine management and put-downs. The latter will be done with full supervision by trained veterinarians, including visiting vets.

•Education programmes for dog owners on responsible pet ownership (RPO) which includes humane caring for pets and consideration for non pet lovers in the neighbourhood.

•Spay and neuter campaigns.

•Dog day events that are specifically organised by MPS.

Other issues to be explored at future meetings are trap, neuter and release programmes for stray dogs and cats, dog parks, legislation to promote RPO. The Committee decided that NGOs can also play a role in the meetings. However, invitations will be sent out to them as and when their help is needed.

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9th March 2010

MPS
Menara MPS, Persiaran 3
Bandar Baru Selayang
68100 Batu Caves
Selangor
Malaysia

Attn : Dato’ Hj Zainol Abidin
MPS President

Yang Dipertua,

RE : MPS HELL POUND – DOG CRUELTY

We are greatly distressed, shocked and appalled by MPS unmerciful treatment on MPS pound dogs for the past 3 years. The mass starvation to dogs in your MPS hell pound by your officers has drew a cry foul amongst the society.

The mistreatment of pound dogs by your officers has spread and many animal lovers are aghast. They enforce a crazy rule to bar all visitors including pet owner to enter the pound to claim their pet or deliver dog food. Those who want to search their pet or adopt a dog from the pound must first travel miles to office to get a consent letter from your offcier to enter the pound, after searching the dog, they have to travel miles again to office to pay RM1000 before they can travel miles to the pound to bail their dog out. The hatred of your officers on dogs makes them want to see these poor animals dead rather than a second chance to live.

Your officers's inhumane pound management has caused the Selayang residents lodged numerous complaints to your office. A good example was on 22nd Feb, an old Hindu woman and her grandson was crying hours outside MPS office to plead her dog to be returned to her ! Kindly take note that your officer trespass her backyard to seize her dog.

Your offciers' act which is above the law not only brought criticism to MPS in general but also has a negative impact on your management in particular. Being their superior, you are accountable on your subordinate’s wrongdoings. It is your duty to spot check the pound to ensure the pound guidelines are adhered ( as practiced BY DBKL Dir-Gen Dr Zainol who spot checked DBKL pound last Saturday under KL Mayor instruction). You should have removed the culprits immediately from managing the pound and should conduct a Domestic Inquiry (DI) on them in which DVS should sit in the panel. Thereafter, their remarks from the DI must be recorded in their Key Performance Index (KPI) respectively.

In 2007, you incurred the wrath of dog-lovers all over the world when you decided to initiate a financially rewarding dog-catching competition inviting the public to participate in what looked like ‘fun-filled festivity’ to reduce the stray population. You have yet to repent and repeat your mistake. You choose to pledge your support and grant your consent to your offciers to go even further on their cruelty on the pound dogs.

Lastly, I would like to reiterate that if your staff has gone against the law, the punishment has to be upon them. Failing of which your leadership is questionable !


Yours faithfully,
Justice for 1Malaysia

Cc : a) Prime Minister Office
b) Selangor MB – Tan Sri Abd Khalid
c) All Animal Welfare Group