Monday November 12, 2012
Rounding up the cattle
By AIDA AHMAD
aidaahmad@thestar.com.my
State health, plantation workers, poverty and caring government committee chairman Dr Xavier Jayakumar said this move was to solve the problem of inappropriate cattle breeding practices and cows roaming in the city.
“The cattle industry in Selangor was once a cottage industry. It was not a big scale business. Farmers used to raise cows in estates under high-tension wires. However, progress came with development and when many estates were converted to housing and property development, the farmers moved the cows to the riverbanks.
“Although it is within city limits, the problem now is that the cows are haphazardly roaming all over the place and creating a stench,”
Dr Xavier said after launching World Animal Day 2012 themed “Responsible Pet Ownership” by the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) in Petaling Jaya Selatan.
World Animal Day is celebrated on Oct 4 each year. It started in Florence, Italy, in 1931 at a convention of ecologists.
The forum is aimed at tackling dog-related issues in the community.
Also present were Petaling Jaya deputy mayor Puasa Mohd Taib, Pet Positive president Anthony Thanasayan, who is also an MBPJ councillor, MBPJ Health and Environment Department director Dr Chitra Davi N. Vadivellu and Kota Damansara assemblyman Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim.
Dr Xavier added that each farmer would be given 4 ha of land.
He said the new plots of land would allow the farmers to breed the cattle in a more professional way, be it for the meat or milk, and it would be controlled by the State Veterinary Department.
Dr Xavier added that the farmers would have to pay a nominal rate for the land.
Meanwhile, Dr Xavier also advised pet owners to be more responsible for their pets.
“Before taking any animal in as pets, they should be well prepared for long term responsibilities. If they should find that they are unable to handle the animal, find the best possible way to move it to a proper shelter.”
Dr Xavier added that there was a problem of small tortoises being released into the lakes in Petaling Jaya, which was causing a huge environmental problem.
He said according to the Animal Licensing by-laws of the Local Government Act 1976, dog owners can only have a maximum of two dogs under their care, which also depends on the house and neighbourhood they live in.
“Dog breeding is not allowed in houses and neither are cats.,” he said.
Dr Xavier said in 2010, MBPJ had given out 5,533 licenses for dogs in Petaling Jaya, followed by 4,828 licences in 2011 and 4,772 licenses in 2012. As for catching stray animals, MBPJ caught 1,154 dogs and 360 cats in 2011 while 691 dogs and 174 cats were caught in 2012.
Earlier, members of the Malaysian Kennel Association (MKA) put up an “Obedience Class and Breed Introduction” presentation as well as a dog show.
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