Malaysia Veterinary Forum (Archive)

Dr. TanDY

Found this article from Malaysia Kini

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Dog cruelly beaten by workers

Sabrina Yeap
(The writer is managing partner of Furry Friends Farm in Kundang, Selangor. )
Dec 15, 06 5:01pm

I was driving to the animal shelter farm that I manage in Kundang when I saw a dog with his jaw dangling and tongue hanging out sitting at the entrance of the Ki-Park Sri Utara construction site, which is about 10 km from the Batu Caves roundabout, heading towards Sungai Buloh and Kepong.

I stopped my car to check on the dog. As I approached the dog, two eye-witnesses told me they saw Indonesian workers repeatedly calling the dog ‘haram’ as they cruelly attacked it. These eye-witnesses pleaded with me to help the dog.

I took the dog, subsequently named Joy, to the veterinary clinic. Joy’s lower jaw was so badly crushed it had to be removed. Her tongue was covered in sand and had lacerations and blood clots all over it.

My friend, Shoba Mano of the Remembering Sheena Campaign wrote to Kok Pick Tong, one of the four managing directors of Kepong Industrial Park (KIP) Group which employs the workers that ill-treated Joy. I clearly stated we were are not interested in the KIP Group identifying and punishing Joy’s attackers. That is for the department of veterinary services to do as the law gives them the authority to prosecute animal abusers.

We instead were seeking the developer’s permission to educate the workers on the ethical treatment of all animals because we don’t want this incident repeated. We also requested that KIP Group pay for Joy’s medical expenses and for his food and maintenance at the Furry Friends Farm to show that corporations in Malaysia are not just money-making machines that don’t care whom and what they devour in order to make their profits.

I did not receive any response to my letter or phone calls.

Recently. I and other animal lovers gathered at a restaurant at Batu Caves to protest the beating of Joy. Dr Habeeb Rahman Ibramsa of the International Islamic University in Gombak, Selangor, was also present at the restaurant. He denounced this beating as un-Islamic .

Sherrina Krishnan of the Independent Pet Rescuers was also present. The Independent Pet Rescuers is a group of individual good Samaritans who pick strays off the streets and re-home them through our adoption programmes. We see a great need for education in Malaysia on issues concerning animal welfare.

People are not taught that pets are for life and should not be dumped when they tire of them. They don’t understand the need for spaying. They don’t understand how much animals enrich our lives because they treat their pets so poorly.

Haji Abdul Rahim Abdul Kapur, a company director present at the gathering, agreed with me that there was a dire need for education on animal welfare. He said we needed the government to support effective education programmes run by animal welfare groups. The Malaysian society cannot do it alone.

Shoba has written to the Housing and Local Government parliamentary secretary Dr S Subramaniam, who had invited at least 30 NGOs and interested parties for a meeting at the ministry in February this year to discuss the issue of dogs and strays. To date, we haven’t seen anything being done to improve the lives of dogs or any other animal.

Joy can now only eat soft food for the rest of her life as she has lost her lower jaw and teeth. What happened to Joy should never happen again. Anyone who would like to learn how to help Joy or the Furry Friends Farm may contact the Remembering Sheena Campaign at remembersheena@gmail.com.

gengen05 · Joined: 31 Oct 2006 Posts: 13 Location: melaka

i agree that some of people need to be educate how to treat their dog..some of people don't even know how to take care of their dog and when get bored with their dog, they'll just throw away without thinking how the dog will be treaten by other people. i so pity on those stray dogs but i cant help all the dogs due to i have limited strength to help them although i willing to help...:(

for me, i just adopt 2 dogs (mother and 1 pup) about 1 month ago near my house area. these dogs were thrown by their owner; my house area here 90% are malay people and they not really like dogs. the 2 dogs being hungry for few days because they cant find any food and they being bullied by those malay kids (throw stone on them). i saw them so pity then i just bring them home and give food to them and bath them.

Another case was that my brother brought back 1 stray dog who only 1 month o less than 1 month. they found it at garage; the body of the dog full of black oil and nothing for 'him' to eat some more.so PITY...

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

Its people like you that help make the difference. Even if you feel its only 1 or 2 dogs that you've helped, you've already helped a lot actually. Cos that 1 mother that you brought back, you help prevent her having multiple litters of puppies on the street.

If anyone wants to help, I'd say that EDUCATION is the most important and long lasting thing that you can do. Educate others how to treat dogs and cats, and also of the importance of neutering your pets.

hanns · Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 10 Location: serdang

There some foreign labourers staying not far from my house because of development of my residential areas. There used to be stray cats and dogs around the area. The labourers would feed them and not for long, those strays went "missing". My neighbours suspect that they have eaten them. I wonder is there any laws in Malaysia that restrict such disgusting act?

gengen05 · Joined: 31 Oct 2006 Posts: 13 Location: melaka

ya...that's true..most probably the stray dogs and cats will be eaten by those foreign labors. my cousin's factory also have foreign labors; i heard my cousin said that they keep those cats and dogs and wait for the appropriate time to eat them. while they keeping the strays, they'll torture those strays.

Dr Nat · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1834 Location: Klang Valley

Do take note that there are municipalities that are actively catching stray dogs and cats. So, just because they suddenly went missing, doesn't mean that the foreign workers are to be blamed.

Torturing dogs and cats are against the law in Malaysia. I don't think there's any law against eating them, provided they were slaughtered properly. If you have any proof of people torturing animals, then you can make a complaint with the JPH or report it to the police.

wallabby · Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

I think that Joy's suffering is because of ignorance of society and also enforcement by the government. I understand that this is an Islamic country, but it is also a multiracial one. Dogs and cats should be given fair treatment. I have nothing against cats, but cats are also disease carriers, they can cause harm and they are a nuisance during the mating season. So why are dogs the only ones scorned?
The government needs to be proactive about animal welfare. They need to take action immediately. Not let the poor animal die and suffer for a few months before they investigate. Police officers on their rounds should take note of suspected animal abuse cases. Mahathir himself said, that a country will never excel without morality. So where is the countries morality towards animals here? I for sure as a Malaysian citizen do NOT see it.

varanus · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 469

Animal welfare? How to define? Like human right, everyone inteprets it slightly differently.

It is a very good job for her to rescue the dog, later named Joy, and send for medical care. But the fact that she bring Joy around showing people, beg for sympathy, collect donation and publicity... I'm strongly against it. For me, Joy is treated like a freak show. If you have true intention of saving the animal, why do you want to stress up the dog, exposing the dog to so many human, who Joy can partially associate as painful memory. Imagine bring a rape victime doing a roadshow showing people how sympathy the victim is. What do you think the human right group would do? Why not just let Joy recuperating at the "Home", rehab joy, let joy enjoy other dogs' company in the "Home", instead of making Joy part of petting zoo and "birthday idol".

Just my 2 cents, some might not like it. Sorry about that.

Dr Dunker · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 464 Location: Puchong,Selangor

Good point. save animals but one does not have to turn a victim of abuse into a freak.

wallabby · Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

No, i did not mean parade Joy around to collect money.
And i don't think anyone intended that in the first place.
Welfare means the health and happiness of a certain group. I mean that the government should care more about the welfare of animals. I think you have completely misinterpreted me varanus and i do believe that you have a very narrow view of the concept of welfare. I didn't mention that Joy should be paraded for publicity and donations. I believe that instead of wasting money on ugly decorations and wasteful parades, the government can instead channel SOME of that money towards helping animals. For instance, creating animal welfare officers to make sure the public treat animals well. They won't even support the SPCA. Welfare, in this context, would mean the well treatment of animals. I do admit that they do need money, but i did not mention making Joy into a publicity stunt for it varanus. I hope you understand.

varanus · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 469

I don't want to pick a fight here, because it is pointless and make everyone not happy. Let me explain.

Firstly, what I meant earlier about the meaning of welfare is not the definition of welfare, but how welfare is interpreted.

Secondly, What is healthy and what is happiness.

The dog has gone through this in the time frame of one month, gone through so much, you think parading an orthopedic patient weeks after operation is healthy and enjoyable for the dog?

Thirdly, the vets did a good job in treating Joy, saving his life. The wound and jaws would be healed in a few weeks time. But how long will he gain confidence in human. The one who torture him is human, the one who save him is human, the one who operated him is human and he is surrounded by some many human in a shopping mall shortly after surgery. And then overwhelmed by a "Birthday Party".

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/2/3/central/16687685&sec=central

Fourthly, don't make the assumption that government is not doing anything. Can't change anything overnight. You need to understand our government's constitution. To amend a law or an Act is not so simple. It needs to be presented in the parliament and it involved a lot of people money and time. A lot of people are working on it, need time to change.

Government is only playing part of the rules. The other major part is down to the personal morality and teaching. It is how you are brought up. I'm sure you are brought up to love animal but you can't expect everyone to be like you. Need time to educate them, in the family level, school level and community level.

Collect donation need permission from the authority. Not collect whatever you feel like it and to cover the cost of the treatment. Collecting money without permit is illegal, that makes you no different from A long, gangster, and some conman. Of course it is a noble thing to do charity. But you got to be realistic and do within your limit. You need to know the escalating cost of the rescue involving food, shelter, medical fees...

This is to clear the air. All of us are animal lover, we are playing a different role in helping animal. Lets do what we can to help them and not overdoing it.

Dr Dunker · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 464 Location: Puchong,Selangor

I understand what u are saing wallaby, but lets talk about Joy for a minute.

Is all this fuss about Joy an effort to place the spot-light on animal welfare or for a few people to gain fame? I honestly can't tell. on the one hand people need to know what happens out there to strays, and Joy serves this end. But then again, the same ppl who rescued him brings him around on tour and prop him up like a "freak".
As a vet I think the act of placing Joy on tour is in itself a form of cruelty. Give him a bed, a roof, food and love. I am sure that's what he wants and as far as I know that's what every dog needs. News cams and lots of public attention is the realm of people and politicians not dogs.

wallabby · Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 32

varanus,

i agree with you that joy should not be paraded around. maybe not that much anyway. but her plight needs to be brought to the eyes of the public for education. if they don't how are they ever going to show society the true meaning of animal cruelty?
she is an extremely lucky dog to be saved. but if her story weren't brought into the light, if she wasn't shown to the public, how else would the public know about her? pictures may say a thousand words, but seeing her in the flesh will make people care about her even more. They will bond with her, and so will she. i guess there are pro's and cons of making her a celebrity in the animal welfare world.

I'm not saying that the government isn't doing anything, but don't you agree that the government isn't doing ENOUGH? They take months to respond to an animal cruelty case. I just feel that the government isn't doing enough at all, and even if they are making a little bit of progress, it is moving at a snail pace.

I'm sorry if this feels like picking a fight with you. Maybe its my style of writing. But anyhow, its a good debate! Gets everyone thinking.

varanus · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 469

wallabby wrote:
i agree with you that joy should not be paraded around. maybe not that much anyway. but her plight needs to be brought to the eyes of the public for education. if they don't how are they ever going to show society the true meaning of animal cruelty?
she is an extremely lucky dog to be saved. but if her story weren't brought into the light, if she wasn't shown to the public, how else would the public know about her? pictures may say a thousand words, but seeing her in the flesh will make people care about her even more. They will bond with her, and so will she. i guess there are pro's and cons of making her a celebrity in the animal welfare world.

True. Very true indeed. Publicity is actually a double edge sword. The thing which pissed me off is someone is actually using or should I say abusing this sword.

Quote: I'm not saying that the government isn't doing anything, but don't you agree that the government isn't doing ENOUGH? They take months to respond to an animal cruelty case. I just feel that the government isn't doing enough at all, and even if they are making a little bit of progress, it is moving at a snail pace.
Well, young padawan, you got to be patients. There are so many different thing bothering the government. Give our government some space and time. The other thing that is possible is to get politician to be involved in animal welfare or some of us become politician. Hahaha... Try to think on the other aspect. There is so many thing which is of higher priority. I am not saying animal welfare is not important but priority has to be clear. Human right and welfare is always the priority eventhough some might not want to think about this. There is some many people needed help like those flood victim in Southern Malaysia, the extreme poverty like those shown in TV Bersama Mu, Old folks home, orphanage... How about those unlucky kids with a little bit extra in their Chromosome 21. They, obviously will be higher in Government or NGO's priority list.

Quote: I'm sorry if this feels like picking a fight with you. Maybe its my style of writing. But anyhow, its a good debate! Gets everyone thinking. Don't worry about it. I always give it a benefit of doubt because this is a public forum.