Penang Dog Attack Only Tip Of Iceberg

Pit Bulls: Extremely caring and trustworthy

LATEST UPDATE: The two mongrels are safe at Balik Pulau DVS.

It has not shown any signs of rabies so far and probably will not.   

If it does, the DVS will have to the track down all the other animals the canines have come in contact with to contain the situation.

The DVS has no intention to put the dogs down despite the owners requesting for it. The next step is to try and rehabilitate and get them adopted - pending a full report of the incident.

The DVS is in full control of the situation. Meanwhile, PETPOSITIVE has issued a full statement to The Star.  

PETPOSITIVE SAYS: 

HERE IS The Star's update on the latest situation on the dog mauling incident in Penang.

It is extremely difficult to say for sure what happened without knowing every fact that took place in the farm in Penang. 

However, one can always be sure that when it comes to canines, when they "kill" humans, it is almost always that they are victims of the tragedy as well.

We are positive that when animal experts dig in further, the truth of the case will definitely emerge.

For now, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) is trying to rule out rabies. It is good that at least the matter is being handled by the DVS instead of the police or the local council. 

We will first have to wait and see if rabies was the cause. If not, the next step would be to see if the canines can be rehabilitated or more appropriately, who would be willing to adopt them.

Whatever the case, this is only the tip of the iceberg in matters regarding canine misbehaviour.

There are many dog owners who daily subject their animals to "aggressive training" - locking them away in small cages, keeping them tied all day with no social training.

These owners should NOT have pets in the first place.

The best way to keep dogs is allow them inside their homes and allow them to mingle with the rest of the family. NEVER AS PROPERTY PROTECTORS.

On another note, we refer to animal activist Christine Lai's comments in The Star that pit bulls possess a "ferocious streak". 

If Lai had checked her facts, she would have known that this is utter nonsense. 

Pit Bulls are another breed of highly caring dogs that are often victimised by stereotypes. Many of them are used as assistance and therapy dogs for the disabled. See HERE

The reason why some of the breed attacks people is because it is trained by humans to attack other humans.

Lai's comments are therefore counter-productive in helping assuage the fears of the public over dogs at this time.    

PET+BLOGSPOT

Tuesday January 11, 2011

Eye on two killer dogs

By TAN SIN CHOW, ANN TAN and TIFFANY LEONG WENYI
north@thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: The two mongrels that attacked an Irishman have been placed at the Balik Pulau veterinary department for observation. The dogs will not be put to sleep yet.

State Veterinary Department director Dr Wan Mohd Kamil Wan Nik said they would monitor the canines for 10 days to check if they had any dangerous diseases such as rabies.

A team comprising 10 veterinary personnel and two policemen picked up the two-year-old dogs, a male and a female named Lee and Ning respectively, from the organic farm in Teluk Bahang at about 2pm yesterday.
“We will not put the dogs to sleep at the moment. We have no authority to do so as this is now a police case,” said Dr Wan Mohd Kamil.

Under observation: Farm owner Joseph Teoh carrying Ning into the car before sending her to the Balik Pulau Veterinary Department Monday.

On Sunday, Irish tourist Maurice Sullivan, 50, died after he was mauled by the dogs at about 10am.
Dr Wan Mohd Kamil said that once the observation period was over, he would write to the police on the next course of action.

He said nothing would be done to the two other dogs at the farm.

Balik Pulau OCPD Supt Mohd Hatta Mohd Zain said the 41-year-old farm owner is being investigated under Section 289 of the Penal Code for negligence with respect to animals.

He said they had recorded statements from relevant parties, adding that the investigation was expected to be completed by this week.

Separately, dog lovers want owners to be more responsible about pet care.

“Owners should be well-informed and educated before they are given the licence to keep pets,” said Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association president Anthony Thanasayan.
He is also a councillor of the Petaling Jaya City Council and Canine Advisory Team (CAT) chairman.
Thanasayan said dogs usually acted according to the owner’s instructions, or from how their masters treated them.

The Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better canine welfare organisation urged the Department of Veterinary Services to investigate the living conditions and the kind of treatment previously received by the two dogs.

“The department should also find out if the dogs had a mix of the pit bull breed, which is banned in Malaysia for its ferocious streak,” said coordinator Christine Lai.

Tuesday January 11, 2011

Friend won’t press charges against farm owners

GEORGE TOWN: The Polish friend of Irish tourist Maurice Sullivan, who was mauled to death by two mongrels at an organic farm in Teluk Bahang, is not initiating legal action against the farm owner.
Agnieszka Jablonska, 28, said she would not press charges against Joseph Teoh, 41, and his family members.

Offering support: Teoh and his wife Beatrice offering their condolences to Jablonska (right) Monday.

“I do not want to aggravate the matter as Teoh and his wife are already in a difficult situation,” she said.
“I believe Sullivan would not want me to do so as well. This is life, and accidents happen.
“Everything is fated. I believe Sullivan is at peace now,” she said at the Penang Hospital mortuary here yesterday.

At about 2.30pm yesterday, a representative from the Irish Embassy met with Jablonska for about 90 minutes.

He, however, refused to divulge details, including information on the funeral arrangements.

Some officers from the Tourism Ministry were also present at the mortuary, acting as observers and to extend their condolences.

Penang Hospital senior consultant pathologist Datuk Dr Bhupinder Singh said Sullivan had died of severe haemorrhage, adding that he also suffered multiple body bites, especially on the limbs, head and neck.

“There were also laceration wounds on his jaw and left neck. His left face and both ears were also torn off,” he told reporters after conducting a three-hour post-mortem.

Dr Bhupinder said Sullivan’s wish to donate his organs could not be fulfilled as, by the time Jablonska conveyed the message to the hospital, it was too late to harvest them.

Meanwhile, Teoh pleaded for privacy to recover from the tragedy.

“My wife and friends have been traumatised by the incident. Please give us some space,” he said.
He said his dogs were sensitive to children, adding that he still could not understand what had caused the attack.

His wife Beatrice Teoh said Sullivan had contacted them via an online website, known as HelpX, to work as volunteers at the farm.

“This is the first time we accepted volunteers,” she said. Beatrice said she did not want the dogs anymore.
“It will only be fair to Sullivan if these dogs are taken away by the authorities.”


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