aNt's aNgle: More crap seem to spew out from the incident of putting down the search and rescue dogs.
Suddenly, everyone's an expert!
It's funny to see how one particular animal rescue group is now digging their paws into pedigree dogs and animal-assisted therapy issues.
And just who exactly is this Dr Dog group to comment about therapy dogs? "Ideal therapy dogs. . ." makes me want to laugh.
Are they even registered?
What are their activities or their credentials?
Well now it's back to the Department of Veterinary Services' head Datuk Dr Aziz Jamaluddin to make a comment, it seems.
He apparently is expected to say something on Monday.
Interesting to watch how this story will finally blow over.
The Star's story today:
Saturday March 16, 2013
Each sniffer dog cost RM100,000, says officer
PETALING JAYA: A Fire and Rescue Department officer
disclosed that each of the eight sniffer and detection dogs which were
euthanised cost about RM100,000 each.
The officer who declined to be named said the department acquired the dogs from Britain when they were about two years old.
“There were 12 dogs in total and four died while in service,” he said.
The officer revealed that the eight dogs were suitable to be put up for adoption as they were very friendly and well socialised.
“These dogs are not like the police dogs which are trained to attack. Our dogs do not require retraining before being re-homed upon retirement,” said the officer.
He added that the onus was on the head of the K9 unit or the chief trainer to recommend adoption as opposed to euthanasia.
The department's corporate management division assistant director-general Sobberi Basiran had said the dogs were put down last week based on advice from the K9 unit's panel of veterinarians from the Veterinary Services Department.
A department insider said the dogs were taken to a facility in Ipoh for the euthanasia as opposed to the regular panel veterinary clinic in Cheras.
Canine welfare and advocacy project Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) rescue coordinator Irene Low asked if the veterinarians who had recommended euthanasia might have made a wrong call.
“If the dogs can be put up for adoption, why recommend ending their lives?” asked Low.
Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin said he would find out the basis of the recommendation to euthanise the dogs.
Animal-assisted therapy organisation Dr Dog Malaysia's coordinator Salehin Ibrahim said the euthanised K9 dogs would have made ideal therapy dogs.
The officer who declined to be named said the department acquired the dogs from Britain when they were about two years old.
“There were 12 dogs in total and four died while in service,” he said.
The officer revealed that the eight dogs were suitable to be put up for adoption as they were very friendly and well socialised.
“These dogs are not like the police dogs which are trained to attack. Our dogs do not require retraining before being re-homed upon retirement,” said the officer.
He added that the onus was on the head of the K9 unit or the chief trainer to recommend adoption as opposed to euthanasia.
The department's corporate management division assistant director-general Sobberi Basiran had said the dogs were put down last week based on advice from the K9 unit's panel of veterinarians from the Veterinary Services Department.
A department insider said the dogs were taken to a facility in Ipoh for the euthanasia as opposed to the regular panel veterinary clinic in Cheras.
Canine welfare and advocacy project Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) rescue coordinator Irene Low asked if the veterinarians who had recommended euthanasia might have made a wrong call.
“If the dogs can be put up for adoption, why recommend ending their lives?” asked Low.
Veterinary Services Department director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin said he would find out the basis of the recommendation to euthanise the dogs.
Animal-assisted therapy organisation Dr Dog Malaysia's coordinator Salehin Ibrahim said the euthanised K9 dogs would have made ideal therapy dogs.
PET+BLOGSPOT is the ONLINE BLOG of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association or Petpositive. Our stories are CURRENT, ACCURATE and RELIABLE. We offer both local and foreign news on animals, disability and the elderly. PET+BLOGSPOT was first established in October 2007. Our hits since then are now 150,000 and ever increasing! PET+BLOGSPOT is updated daily. Kindly note that views expressed in PET+BLOGSPOT are not necessarily those of PETPOSITIVE. You may also visit our Webpage by browsing: www.petpositive.com.my You can also find us in Facebook under PETPOSITIVE EMPOWERMENT. Please sign up as a FOLLOWER of this Blog if you haven't done so already in order to show us your kind support for our work. Thank you!
3 comments:
Hi Anthony,
Why are you so worked up about people who are doing everything they can to extend the lives of animals?
If you feel that they are wrong, engage them but do so without using such strong language and emotion.
For me, I am grateful that there are caring people out there who are willing to spend their precious time and money to help animals in Malaysia.
Can you imagine that if such people and organisations ceased to exist, what would happen to the many animals they have saved and cared for?
Take it easy.
Hi Anonymous, thank you for your email. It would be good to know who you are though instead of a person I do not know.
You are right that all of us should be thankful for groups that exist that helps animals.
But at the same time it would be naive on our part to think that every perceived intention to "help animals" always comes with a good motive.
Here are the facts:
The dogs are already dead. Nothing we do can bring them back from the dead again.
There are countless ordinary elderly dogs on death row in the local pounds. Why don't these group/s do all they can for fighting for them too instead of only RM100,000 pooches?
Please read my points again. The veterinarian panel have recommended that they be put down. This is an internationally accepted standard all over the world.
It isn't just about adopting the animals alone. Are they prepared to go all the way to ensure that the animals' geriatric care needs are fully met? This involves lots of money. Are they willing to pay for that?
There is nothing wrong about euthanasia. Even humans are beginning to clamour for it.
These hypocrites say "no kill" but they have no qualms about feasting on chicken, pork, lamb etc. Aren't they animals too?
Warm regards and thank you!
Hi Anthony,
I understand that if an animal is suffering, putting it to sleep would be the best thing to do but... only after exhausting all channels to keep it alive.
If the fire department feels that the dogs are burdensome in cost to keep further, announce it to the public with a warning that it would take a great deal of commitment to re-house them.
I would not be surprised if someone wants to take up the challenge. If yes, the dog(s) have a saviour. If not, too bad.
The worse thing for the fire department to do was to perform the task and then put it on their Facebook as if it were some kind of badge of honour.
To make matters even more incredulous, an incognito officer from the department said that the dogs could be rehomed, after the deed had been done. I mean, this is crazy!
You now have two possible stories; the dogs were crippled and needed to be taken out and the other is the dogs could be looked after in their old age.
Who do you believe?
Post a Comment