Wanted: Man's best friends — Adrian Lee Yuen Beng

JUNE 4 — The recent campaign proposed by the Majlis Daerah Tanjung Malim did not surprise me. Dubbed the “Kempen 1 Anjing 10 Ringgit”, those living around Tanjung Malim or whomsoever from where ever seeking to be a mercenary of stray dogs are invited to kill a stray and collect a bounty of RM10.

When I read about the recent campaign to curb the problem of stray dogs, I mentally constructed the profile photo of a dog dressed in prison stripes behind bars emboldened with the words WANTED and the promise of a bounty at the bottom.

Of course, there is no option for these dogs to be taken in alive. They are indeed to be taken in lifeless, senseless and no longer breathing. In short, we have been given the license to kill.

Yes, that is the price placed on the heads of man’s best friend. In truth, it could spell a great payday and windfall for some as the number of strays has indeed spiraled out of control.

The campaign of cash for dead dogs could have taken cue from the “success” from the recent photograph of a supposedly giant sized rat in Subang Jaya, which was said to have been manipulated, and from other campaigns that offer cash in exchange for a dead rat.

Perhaps it inspired someone within the corridors of power that beneath the sewers or monsoon drains lays a giant sized stray dog that has mutated into three times its normal size. But then again, whatever the size of the dog dragged in, the bounty would remain unchanged at RM10.

Or perhaps there was feeling of generosity that money from the state coffers should be returned to the good people of Tanjung Malim.

There could also be a wanting to make someone a potential millionaire simply by killing stray dogs for bounty. The mathematical calculations is pretty simple, a hundred thousand dog carcasses multiplied by RM10 makes an instant millionaire.

After all, DBKL did once offer up to RM6.8 million ringgit for the catching of rats back in 2013. Even a local radio station posted on its Facebook page, “How far would you go for 1 Million ringgit? Would you catch 1 Million rats?”

Some users even cheekily commented that they should build a rat breeding “factory” that sells rats back to the DBKL!

Because of the power of social media, I too read on Facebook, Whatsapp and Twitter about how many Malaysians felt about the RM10 for a stray dog campaign.

Many were of the opinion that such acts are in fact inhumane, savage and barbaric. We have after all, witnessed, thanks to social media, about how stray dogs have been helplessly beaten to death with the excuse of population control.

On the other, there are also many who felt that the problem of strays has become a public menace that has gone out of hand.

I then decided that some form of investigative journalism by a normal citizen is warranted. Upon closer scrutiny of the RM10 for a stray dog poster, two elements became a cause for concern.

The first being the statement “terms and conditions are available on the Council’s website”. Being Malaysian, the little asterisk spelling a disclaimer is placed so slightly hidden at the most non-strategic location of a posters by many retail outlets have become a normal occurrence. 

Maybe these terms and conditions spells out the do’s and don’ts of how these dogs are to be killed. Perhaps the website would indicate how these dogs are to be massacred so that such killings could be perceived as less “barbaric”.

The terms and conditions could’ve spelt out the rules of engagement and that no one should go in ala John Rambo with guns blazing and machetes wielded.

Or perhaps there was a certain quota of how much bounty one could’ve collected.

But alas, I did not manage to read these terms and conditions as the poster had been removed from the website after the campaign being halted with immediate effect after much public outcry.

The other thing that I noticed was the images of the dogs. These images of such brutal, vicious and bloodthirsty dogs lifted from Shutterstock sent shivers down my spine. They looked so ferocious that it made me develop a sudden sense of cynophobia or fear of dogs.

I too wouldn’t dare touch with a 100 foot pole these dogs that resembled Zoltan, Hound of Dracula or the zombie Dobermans from Resident Evil.

On the other hand, images of such violent looking dogs could’ve brought out the vigilante in me knowing that Tanjung Malim residents are currently in danger due to the presence of such nasty looking beasts.

On second thought, maybe Tanjung Malim would now be the last place I’d visit on earth knowing that the strays look as such.

Out the window go my childhood memories of the gentle Lassie, only to be replaced by images of a vicious bloodhound waiting around the next corner waiting to tear me to bits.

Whatever the form that the stray may take, be it a rodent, dog or cat, the problem of strays has indeed gone out of hand.

We have become so accustomed to the problem of strays that it is acceptable for many of us to eat at food stalls and food courts where strays sit below our tables waiting for crumbs to fall.

It should be through experience that they know that somehow some food would eventually “accidentally” fall off the table of a sympathetic diner. After all, those pitiful sad eyes coupled with the constant whimpering/meowing/mind control become hard to turn away.

So, once again, who should be blamed for the problem of strays roaming our streets?

Should the owners of pets who throw their pets onto the streets after they no longer appear to be cute be blamed? Is this the fault of the education system instead for not teaching Malaysians what to do with unwanted pets? Perhaps it is the city and local councils that should be blamed for not controlling the growing number of strays?

To paraphrase Mahatma Gandhi, “the greatness of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated”. Even Paul McCartney stated that “you can judge a man’s true character by the way he treats his fellow animals”.

In this context, we do want to let sleeping dogs lie. It is time for animals and their welfare to be legally protected. Legal protection should be covered against animal abuse, inappropriate discard of animals and illegal poaching.

The public too should be further educated that neutering and spaying is indeed the kindest way to curb the uncontrolled population of strays.

Perhaps the RM10 for a stray dog campaign had its noble intention of reducing strays. Indeed, the diseases and problems brought upon by strays need to be controlled. But then again, paying everyday Malaysians to perform the duties of trained dog catchers is hazardous, unwarranted and inhumane.

Indeed, I truly applaud our fellow Malaysians who continue working as Good Samaritans to selflessly and tirelessly rescue, shelter and feed strays and unwanted pets.

The number of pet lovers too is indeed increasing as Malaysians are willing to spend an incredible sum of money to lavishly pamper their pets with the best clothing, food and medical care. No longer do many dogs literally live a dog’s life nor do they have a dog’s day afternoon.

But what about those who continue to place their pets in cages or tied to a pole for hours in the sun without water or food and for days without end? We too are no longer strangers to witnessing how dogs and cats have been abused through the throwing of sticks and stones, scalding by hot water and being beaten to within an inch of their lives.

Pay a visit to some pet stores and see how certain species of exotic animals that are supposed to be roaming freely in the forests are being openly sold. Do not forget about the endangered species that are illegally poached, sold and trafficked due to myths that certain body parts contain mythical powers that enhances male libido.

A sadistic trend of placing dogs into washing machines and turning them on have also has been occurring lately. It also wasn’t too long ago that a kitten was stuffed into a jar and when residents from a certain island caught and dumped 300 stray dogs onto an uninhibited island only for these dogs to turn cannibalistic. 

Surely, we do not want to be known as a nation where the act of dog eats dog literally takes place. 

If this we do not want to be recognised by the world through such cruel acts, how then should we treat our fellow animals in order for us to pride ourselves as a great nation?

It is time that we acknowledge and respect the fact that animals too are God’s creations with feelings, emotions and every right to live.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the view of the Malay Mail Online.