Hundreds crouch and kneel on roads, begging Penang to stop killing dogs
By PREDEEP NAMBIAR - 23 November 2015 @ 6:14 PM
Some 100 animal lovers took to the streets today to protest over an ‘unnecessary' culling of dogs in the state. The group crouched and knelt every three steps, mimicking dogs. They also shouted slogans, demanding the Penang government to stop killing dogs. Pix by Mikail Ong
GEORGE TOWN: Some 100 animal lovers took to the streets today to protest over an ‘unnecessary' culling of dogs in the state.
The group crouched and knelt every three steps, mimicking dogs. They also shouted slogans, demanding the Penang government to stop killing dogs.
They marched from the city council dog pound at Jalan Sungai at 2pm and arrived at the state government offices in Komtar two hours later.
Led by independent dog rescuer A. Vaneytha, the group was stopped by security officers from entering the complex.
However, Chief Minister's Office information officer Zahar Zainul stood outside to receive a two-page memorandum from Vaneytha.
The memorandum, among others, demanded the state government to allow the public to adopt dogs from the Penang Island City Council dog pound; allow animal-interest groups to respond to dog-related complaints; and to employ the trap-neuter-release programme which has been proven to be more successful than culling.
The Penang government had conducted a three-week dog culling exercise in Sept, after several rabies cases were reported.
It was then called off on Oct 9, citing a ‘low prevalence’ of rabies cases. The order to vaccinate all pet dogs is still in effect.
However, animal feeders and interest groups allege that local authorities were seen 'hunting' and 'killing' dogs.
They also claim to have video evidence of it happening at dog pounds.
Penang had only recorded four cases — three of which were dog-bite cases and one canine infected with rabies.
