Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Letters To The Editor, The Star, Thursday, March 30, 2006

N E W S

Opinion
Thursday March 30, 2006


Educate pet owners first

I FULLY sympathise with Disgusted Resident and other residents of Island Park, Penang, where dog owners have converted the children’s playground into a nasty poo-ground,“Dog owners turn playground into poo-ground” (The Star, March 29).

The same thing occurs in a playground in Section 17 of Petaling Jaya.

As a dog owner, I am ashamed that some dog owners have absolutely no respect or consideration for others or the environment.

There are many ways in which dog poop can be properly managed.

Since canines are creatures of habit, they can be easily taught to go to their owners’ bathrooms, toilets or gardens before they are taken out for walks.

Owners of pets that poo outside their homes should promptly pick up after their animals and dispose of the matter properly.

It was reported recently that the Housing and Local Government Ministry is drawing up a law that will require dog owners to promptly pick up after their pets or be penalised,“By-law puts tight leash on dog owners” (The Star, March 22).

The move has been long awaited by many responsible dog owners who are equally peeved by the actions of some irresponsible pet owners who give dogs a bad name.

However, let us not forget that no amount of laws and legislation can replace the role of pet education among members of the public.

I would, therefore, like to urge the ministry to ensure that it comes up with a comprehensive plan on pet education, which should be conducted by local councils together with animal NGOs in the country.



ANTHONY SIVA BALAN,

Petaling Jaya.











More News:
Focus Headlines Full confidence in EPF managing savings Fit-ting start to health Breakdown of both aero trains a cause for concern Chicken treat shows up ugly side of Malaysians Don’t let good facilities go to waste Let’s walk the talk if we want to progress Educate pet owners first Airline will face challenge of changing mindsets SMS your views Censors’ ratings make no sense Rectify teacher shortage woes There is a positive side to petrol price rise Public toilets should be free of charge




Most Viewed

Furore over RM45 dish
Taxi touts turn up at KLIA’s budget terminal
Pak Lah wants speedy implementations of 9MP
First-time jogger found drowned
Prof: Don’t be like Hang Tuah in romance
Family holds wedding for dead couple
Woman held after baby found buried
UM dons speak up for VC
Loan shark couple among eight held
Schools for Indons in Sabah





Latest Jobs from StarJobs

Accounting Assistant
Marketing Representative
Marketing Executive
Senior/Accounts Clerk
Supervisor - Finance and Accounting
Marketing Executive
Legal Officer
Quantity Surveyor
Admin and Account Executive
Senior Site Supervisor
More Jobs...






--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FAQ - Privacy Statement - Terms of Use - Write to Us - Site Map
Copyright © 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
Managed by I.Star.


NationWorld UpdatesCourtsParliamentMetroColumnistsOpinionLast 7 Days

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Rethink Neighbour's Permission in Malaysiakini today

Username Password
Forgot password?







HOME

COLUMNS

Krisis kepimpinan Guru Besar SRJK(C)

Feminism is not my new religion

Living within contradictions: Part II

Malaysian feminism in an 'apartheid nation'


LETTERS

Petronas has been systemically drained

Petrol price: Take into account local conditions

Twin Towers project a good decision

High time for present govt to step aside

No need for gas tank stickers, save money

Malaysian feminist and proud of it

Cukai sama untuk pengguna LCCT?

CIMB-Southern Bank: Going for easy meat

SPM top scorer left out in the cold

Dogs: Scrap ‘neighbours views’ rule, MBSA


NEWS

Police watchdog: Amend 'abused' laws

New bird flu outbreak in Perak

'Mr Wheels' Naza tops AP list...again

Ministry: Nearly 5,000 HFM cases in S'wak

Name-calling, insult-trading back to the fore

Crooked bridge may yet turn out straight

Pig farms: All but one spared the axe

Govt tells employers to adjust salary, allowances

Economy to expand slightly: MIER

Ministry orders check on contact lens solution


OPINION & FEATURES

Rediscovering secularism in Malaysia

Spore's communist 'threat' - was it real?

Blending religion with education

PAS tandus cendiakawan?

Arroyo, Joker and the witch-hunt

Dogs: Scrap ‘neighbours views’ rule, MBSA
Responsible Pet Ownership
Mar 16, 06 4:31pm



Congratulations are in order for the mayor of Shah Alam for announcing last week that most of MBSA’s new regulations on dog ruling which local dog owners had vehemently objected to as harsh and unreasonable will be modified or scrapped with immediate effect.

However, there is still one more issue that needs a serious rethink: the requirement of views of immediate neighbours on the right and left before a new pet owner is allowed to have a dog. The MBSA may have well-intentioned reasons for their decision in wanting to prevent an unpleasant situation before it happens.

However, the negatives for such a move far outweighs the positive. They are as extreme as banning all bikers in the city in order to prevent snatch thefts on motorcycles. Checking with neighbours first before deciding to grant a wannabe dog owner a licence not only goes against the grain of his basic right as a Malaysian citizen to be able to own a pet of his liking but it also grants his neighbours an unfair advantage and privilege over him in being able to dictate the kind of pets the owner should or should not possess.

This leaves potential new dog owners in Shah Alam feeling vulnerable and discriminated against when it comes to them wanting to have a dog. Such an exercise will only invite prejudiced remarks by neighbours who might have stereotyped thinking or personal phobias about dogs.

Besides, obtaining neighbours’ views about dogs - especially about a dog they have never seen or an owner who has never had the chance to prove himself - will not be able to say anything about responsible pet ownership. Imagine forcing new cat owners to do this also!

Non-feline owners are likely to also say no to their neighbours because they wouldn’t want cats jumping over walls and defecating in their garden or making love cries all night long. Thus the MBSA should totally scrap the ‘neighbours views requirement’ at once and concentrate more on the root causes of irresponsible pet ownership which can be best done through long-term education.

As a progressive and forward-thinking city that Shah Alam aspires to be, the council should be seen as trying to encourage more people to have pets for healthy living and a better life - not appear as if they are trying to deprive or curb its constituents from having a right to own dogs.


Palestinians below dogs and cats?
04:15pm Thu Feb 09, 2006
Pitbulls for now. Next?
04:34pm Wed Jan 25, 2006
Don’t tease the dogs, please
03:08pm Tue Jan 24, 2006
Banning Rottweilers a waste of time
03:18pm Mon Jan 23, 2006
Dog issue: Vets should remove their muzzle
05:53pm Wed Jan 18, 2006
Dog issue: MBSA shouldn’t exclude disabled
03:26pm Tue Jan 17, 2006
Dog-control rules will aid criminals
03:57pm Mon Jan 16, 2006
Unreasonable MBSA regulations on dogs
07:33pm Wed Dec 28, 2005
MBSA shouldn’t bite dog owners
01:58pm Thu Dec 22, 2005
Have responsible cat owners, too
12:42pm Thu Jul 14, 2005
Let’s have ‘responsible care’ from dog owners
12:46pm Tue Jul 05, 2005
Anti-woof remarks deserve muzzle
01:42pm Thu Jun 30, 2005
Argument against dogs lacks bite
12:47pm Wed Jun 29, 2005
Pets play important role in civilised society
01:33pm Wed May 11, 2005
Have animal behaviour education in schools
12:47pm Tue May 10, 2005
Rottweiler ban a savage attack
01:33pm Thu May 05, 2005
Spare a thought for our pets
01:30pm Wed May 04, 2005
Round up the owners, not the dogs
01:46pm Fri Mar 25, 2005




ADVERTISEMENT









Copyright © 1999-2005 Mkini Dotcom Sdn Bhd. All rights reserved.