Noah's Ark Ipoh Slams MBI For Strays Treatment

PRESS STATEMENT FOR 9^TH JUNE 2012

NOAH’S ARK IPOH ANIMAL WELFARE

Following our silent protest outside the SUK building on the 5^th April 2012 we would like to update you on what has transpired. NAI is very pleased that action has been taken to stop shooting the strays. However the move to resolve the problem has not progressed any further than two meetings.

Dato Dr. Mah Hang Soon invited us to have a meeting to discuss this. He suggested that we work with MBI to try and resolve the stray dog population. It was agreed by Datuk Rahim, MBI enforcement officers, NAI and Dato Dr. Mah Hang Soon that a seminar would be arranged on the 14^th May 2012 to create animal awareness and how to eradicate the problem of stray dogs. This was in fact announced in the press.

The meeting to brain storm prior to the seminar was cancelled by MBI hence the seminar never took place. Following calls to MBI another meeting was arranged. This took place on the 11^th May 2012 and this was attended by NAI, Datuk Rahim, DVS and enforcement officers. It was agreed that the seminar will take place on either the 12^th or 18^th June 2012. Another attempt to have a brain storming meeting was arranged for the 30^th May 2012. This was cancelled at the last minute siting Datuk Rahims busy schedule. It seems that the seminar will be postponed again.

On Thursday 7^th June 2012 NAI received several calls from distraught owners and community feeders that their dogs had been captured and they wanted to know where they could go and retrieve them. They were prepared to pay a fine. Some dogs had collars but no license. Some dogs including ours have lost their licenses because of the poor quality of the licenses. (This issue was highlighted to Datuk Rahim and Encik Halim at our meeting on the 11^th May 2012.)

NAI made several calls to MBI and were finally told by the enforcement officer that these dogs caught in Tambun/Tanjong Rambutan and Jelapang will be taken to Papan and released. We then told them that would amount to animal cruelty as they will not be able to survive without food and it will be a slow and painful death.

They then changed their story and said that they will be euthanized by DVS. This is not entirely true as we asked DVS if any of their officers were involved and they said that they were unaware of this. NAI members were camped outside MBI and DVS to see if they could rescue any of the dogs. At 1130pm Encik Asri (enforcement officer) came out and told Dr.Ranjit that all the dogs had been “destroyed”. She asked to take her dog’s body back and they said it was in Papan.

Dr.Ranjit had a call yesterday 8^th June 2012 from Encik Halim who said that he had been asked by Datuk Bandar Ipoh to say that she had no rights over a stray dog and therefore cannot ask to claim the body. Dr. Ranjt explained that NGO’s feeding a particular dog for spaying and rehoming is not classed as a stray and she should have been given the opportunity to claim the dog back dead or alive.

NAI want to know:

Why hasn’t MBI got a pound? Every other council has their by laws that states that captured dogs are kept for a week before they are put to sleep.

Why is MBI destroying the dogs within 24 hours?

How are these dogs “destroyed?”

Why are contradictory statements from enforcement officers? One says they have been destroyed and another says they have been dumped in Papan and another says they have been released in Papan. If they have been released how are they going to survive?

How is dumping the dogs in another area going to solve the stray dog population?

. When NAI visited the site in Papan they saw about 10 dogs? Where are the rest?

MBI is bent on destroying stray dogs but the problem still exists. Why because they are not addressing the root of the problem. They need to look further and stop the breeding process. This something we have been campaigning for. They need to be neutered and rehomed. They should be helping us trap and neuter these strays. This is why we need to have an animal awareness seminar.

We want the council to stop this cruelty to the stray dog population. It is not by choice that they are strays. They are strays because humans are irresponsible. We have a voice they do not. MBI should penalise the irresponsible dog owners for letting their dogs out to breed and then discard the mothers and puppies like rubbish.

Perak needs to be known for its beauty, food and hospitality not for indiscriminate inhumane and cruel killings of dogs.

Please join us for a candle light vigil outside MB’s residence. Tonight at 8pm. We need to show that we care for all our animals and do not want our animals treated with such cruelty.

Malika Ramiah Oates

President Noah’s Ark Ipoh Animal Welfare.

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