KUALA LUMPUR, May 24 — Seeking to spur greater animal welfare awareness, a local canine rights group will be holding a memorial service for Brianna today, a lost dog that died last week after being shot at twice with arrows.
Inspired by a “Justice for Brianna” campaign initiated by a pet lover on the Internet, Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) will hold a gathering at the Copper Cattle Cafe located at No. 32, Jalan SS4C/5, Petaling Jaya near the Kelana Jaya light rail transit station, to petition the government to take a more serious stand against animal cruelty.
MDDB project manager and JFB campaign coordinator, Melinda Joy Gomez, urged supporters to join its signature drive and fund-raising efforts to end animal cruelty.
T-shirts of the dog will be available for sale.
White helium-filled balloons will also be released in its ode to Brianna, which died from tick fever May 16.
Gomez said the group is also looking into claims that the man said to have shot arrows at the dog worked with the military.
“If we find the man was in the armed forces, we will present the memorandum to the Ministry of Defence. If not, to the Prime Minister’s Department,” she told The Malay Mail Online when contacted today.
Gomez did not say what the memorandum contained.
Brianna was reportedly attacked by a man using a bow and arrows outside his home at Taman Sinaran, Taming Jaya on May 13 in what he described as an attempt to chase away the animal.
The dog, which had two arrows sticking out of its body, was rescued by another resident, who lodged a police report and contacted MDDB to treat the injured dog. The group named it Brianna.
Police said they are investigating the case under Section 429 of the Penal Code pertaining to mischief towards animals.
Under the law, convicted offenders can be sentenced to jail up to a maximum of five years and a fine or both.
Animal welfare activists however have argued for stiffer penalties to end animal abuse.
