Wednesday December 14, 2011
MBPJ: Pet breeders to be regulated
By YUEN MEIKENG
meikeng@thestar.com.my
PETALING JAYA: The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will look at regulating animal breeders to stop mistreatment of pets before they are sold to pet shops in the future.
Council canine advisory team's chief Anthony Thanasayan said he would submit proposals to empower the council to issue licences to pet breeders aimed at better regulating the industry.
“Local councils should be given the power to issue licences to animal breeders.
“By doing this, we can weed out illegal breeders and those who mistreat animals,” he said yesterday.
He added that this would help curb unethical practices by pet breeders, such as confining large animals in small cages or feeding them expired pet food.
Anthony, who is also an MBPJ councillor, added that the proposals would also allow council officers to conduct regular checks on pet shops to ensure that they adhered to requirements for the proper treatment of animals.
While some pet shops were at fault, he said, the cause of the problems were mainly with the animal breeders.
“A certain standard should be met in order for one to be a breeder,” he said.
He added that the regulation of breeders and pet shops should be a collective effort by local councils, the Veterinary Service Department and non-governmental organisations.
Anthony was commenting on news reports that animal welfare groups had stepped up calls to prohibit pet shops from selling puppies and kittens as it gave rise to backyard breeders and puppy mills.
In response, pet shop owners said it was unfair to penalise the entire industry just because there were some pet shop operators who did not take good care of their animals.
Council canine advisory team's chief Anthony Thanasayan said he would submit proposals to empower the council to issue licences to pet breeders aimed at better regulating the industry.
“Local councils should be given the power to issue licences to animal breeders.
“By doing this, we can weed out illegal breeders and those who mistreat animals,” he said yesterday.
He added that this would help curb unethical practices by pet breeders, such as confining large animals in small cages or feeding them expired pet food.
Anthony, who is also an MBPJ councillor, added that the proposals would also allow council officers to conduct regular checks on pet shops to ensure that they adhered to requirements for the proper treatment of animals.
While some pet shops were at fault, he said, the cause of the problems were mainly with the animal breeders.
“A certain standard should be met in order for one to be a breeder,” he said.
He added that the regulation of breeders and pet shops should be a collective effort by local councils, the Veterinary Service Department and non-governmental organisations.
Anthony was commenting on news reports that animal welfare groups had stepped up calls to prohibit pet shops from selling puppies and kittens as it gave rise to backyard breeders and puppy mills.
In response, pet shop owners said it was unfair to penalise the entire industry just because there were some pet shop operators who did not take good care of their animals.
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