aNt's aNgle:
Yesterday I published a letter by a former American animal control expert who shared his views on stray animals and how to manage them.
Today we print another letter, this time by a reader called Mohd Amir who sent his comments to be highlighted in this Blog.
He presents his strong argument why he believes that strays should be properly managed instead of being allowed to roam on the streets.
He wrote to us because he feared his views would not be highlighted in a particular dog blog that was advocating for stray dogs to be released back in neighbourhoods after they are spayed.
Encik Amir's views echo the hundreds and thousands of views of Malaysians who have a sincere concern about strays being a threat to their safety and health.
Here is Encik Amir's comments in full:
"This comment has been posted today on the 18/06/2010. The writer of the blog Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) may not allow this comment to be posted so I have taken the opportunity to email to all parties so as not to waste my effort - Amir
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To the writer of (name deleted by blogger),
My name is Amir and I have been reading your blog for sometime. In fact, I have a few friends that read your blogs as well.
One even tried to post a comment in your blog but it was never published. Maybe it's because you are trying to protect your organization or your reputation since you do not openly use your real name or post your picture but use a dogs picture and name instead.
Therefore, I challenge you to post my comments in your blog and answer as yourself.
I think you do not know much about the animal related problems faced in Malaysia. Have you ever been bitten by stray dogs or have children that had caught animal related diseases? I have!
In my youth, I was chased and bitten by a pack of dogs and recently my 7-year-old daughter caught ringworms from playing with a stray cat.
If you know your subject matter you wouldn't be taking about rabies only. What are H1N1, SARS and Nipah Viruses to you?
Did you know that H1N1 was detected in dogs and cats in the United States recently? Do you know what is the meaning of ANTIGENIC SHIFT? Please Google it up before deviating readers to your cause.
Your statements are showing everyone that you clearly do not know what you are doing.
Me and my friends regret ever donating money to your cause when you were in NZX Damansara sometime back.
Is your agenda to raise funds for your organization saying that you should NOT catch strays but leave them free to roam freely and reproduce?
If you want to save the strays by vaccinating/treating, neutering and rehoming them, by all means go ahead. I myself have 3 stray cats that I picked up off the streets.
But if you are saying that the councils shouldn't catch stray dogs and cats, you are seriously going off the loose end.
I don't think that by attacking individuals, councils and other NGOs shows that you are a good organization. You even use foul language in your blogs.
The councils are doing taxpayers a service when they do dog-catching.
The same as when they do fogging for mosquitoes. To protect us.
Do you want them to NOT do this service in your neighbourhood? Your organization's uses the name Community Development.
Are you really doing this for the community or for yourselves?
Regards
Mohd Amir
18/06/2010
18/06/2010
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3 comments:
Mr. Amir,
I must say that i agree with you whole heartedly, i am an animal lover to the core but do not agree to TNRelease, Rehoming will be a better option, What life will a stray have once you release it.... BACK TO Square ONE, surroundeed by danger of cruel people, diseases (Not all diseases are covered by Vaccination), prone to fighting which will lead to wounds, prone to accidents... how often do we see a dog lying on the road being hit by vehicles. Animal control is needed in Malaysia, Animal control officers need to be properly trained and anti cruelty laws made more stringent. It will take time but efforts must be put in to ensure this. The writer of that blog should focus on educating the public on Responsible Pet Ownership and not keep bombarding the councils or other NGO's. Their tactics are very brutal and vulgar, i used to support them but not anymore. Your letter was indeed an eye opener. thank you
Animal Lover
I also tend to agree with Amir on the issues that ... I also tend to agree with Amir on the issues that he brought up and I understand where he comes from after reading the in another blog.
Oddly enough, Amir's questions to the writer and that group was not really answered.
The blogger commented about using stray and homeless puppies as trained canine companion dogs for the disabled:
That triggered a memory of a conversation I had with an American trainer who trains dogs for the disabled in the past about using strays for this purpose.
If I can remember clearly, his answer was that they only choose certain breeds because of their temperaments, willingness to work with people and natural abilities.
And even then, not all dogs of those breeds are ultimately chosen for service.
There was a Japanese movie that shows the difficult and time consuming process as well called "Quill".
Based on this imput, I guess the idea of training strays for the disabled although a noble one, would not be as beneficial as a formula that has been proven time again.
The blogger had expressed her anger towards CAT because of this issue as clearly mentioned. And because of that anger, it may have caused her to have clouded judgements and prejudice against the CAT.
The CAT program, if I recall, was initiated to educate and help the municipalities involved in regards to humane animal capture first and formost with other programs, I believe, in the pipeline.
The endeavour to actually start the CAT initiative in itself should be commended.
One thing to remember though, is the popular phrase "Rome wasn't built in a day", it takes time.
Cheah
Selangor
Publish Reject
(Anonymous) 6/22/10
Sorry, but I hate that picture! I hate seeing a dead dog especially with blood all over. I think I would have nightmares because of the picture. Hope not. RIP dog.
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