Dogs Put Down According To WHO Procedures - DVS DG

Vet chief defends killing of K9 dogs

Story by Free Malaysia Today.

Priscilla Prasena | March 19, 2013

‘They were incurably ill and the euthanasia followed WHO procedures.’

PUTRAJAYA: The Veterinary Services Department today defended its decision to kill eight sniffer dogs early this month.

The animals were incurably ill, said the department’s director-general, Dr Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin.

“The dogs were examined by the Kuala Lumpur Veterinary Services Department,” he told a press conference here in the wake of criticism by animal lovers following a news report about the killing.
“Based on clinical and physical examinations, the dogs were found to have several health conditions like kidney, heart and lung diseases.

“The examinations found that they had incurable illness and the department weighed the option of euthanasia.

“After discussions involving veterinary officers and the Fire and Rescue Services Department, we set 10am, March 5, for the euthanasia.

“We followed the procedures set by the World Health Organisation and the euthanasia was done by a qualified officer.”

Last March 15, the Star reported that the Fire Department had decided on the euthanasia to avoid spending money to maintain the dogs.

The report, which followed a Facebook announcement by the department’s K9 Unit, provoked condemnation by animal lovers and activists nationwide.

Quoting an official regulation, Dr Abdul Aziz said animals used in active duty could not be given away to another party.

“These dogs are trained for a certain purpose and you cannot have them in your house like a pet,” he said. “They might even attack someone in the house.”

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