Two Dogs Released And Two To Be Put Down

aNt's aNgle:

This is a tragic tale all the way.  And there are many more issues to the case to me other than whether the dogs should be put to sleep at all. Things like if all the canines were returned to the owner, would such an incident recur? How does one prevent one? Should anyone be allowed to have such potentially dangerous dogs regardless of what type of breed it is? What preventive measures did the owners take to ensure that to prevent the earlier incident. And who would want to adopt "killer dogs?" in their home?

Wednesday July 13, 2011

Killer dogs ‘sentenced to death’

By ANDREA FILMER
andrea@thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: The two dogs which mauled an Irish tourist to death at an organic farm here in January will be put down.

Their owners reached an agreement with the Penang Municipal Council to put down the canines.
However, two other dogs, which were of the same mixed breed as the killer canines, were ordered to be released into the owners’ care with the assurance they would be kept confined to a secured area, away from the public.

In a consent judgment recorded by High Court Judge Yaacob Md Sam, both parties agreed to allow the council to put down the dogs – Ning and Li – in the presence of owners Teoh Bee Eng, 56, and 42-year-old Joseph Teoh Boon Aun.

The dogs are to be put down as soon as possible with the remains to be given to the owners to be disposed of. Each party will bear their own costs.

On Jan 9, the two dogs were involved in the death of Maurice Sullivan, 51, who was visiting the couple’s organic farm in Teluk Bahang here.

It was reported that he died of severe haemorrhage with multiple bites found on his limbs, head and neck.

The couple surrendered two other dogs – Yin and Kang – to the state Veterinary Department on Feb 24 after the canines were said to be of the same mixed breed as the dogs involved in the mauling.
The agreement is seen as the best outcome for all parties.

Sullivan’s family had previously said they had only wanted the dogs involved in the incident to be put to sleep.

Bee Eng and Boon Aun, who were in court yesterday, were represented by counsel Datuk Jerald Gomez and Doreen Cheah while Karin Lim and Dominic Pillai appeared for the council.

Several animal lovers were also present to hear the decision.

Met outside the courtroom, a teary-eyed Boon Aun said it had been a trying time for them but he was satisfied with the decision.

“It was a hard and difficult time. But I am happy to get the other two dogs back,” he said.

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