It's a dog life

The Majlis Perbandaran Selayang ( Selayang Municipal Council ) recently made an announcement on its website for a unique dog-catching competition. Prices ranging from RM1,000 to RM 15,000 are offered to Resident Committees within the council's jurisdiction. Well, well, there seemed to be a lot of “dog bashing” and actions taken against dogs by various town and municipal council all these while.

The announcement drew criticism from pet lovers and some NGO organizations. Personally speaking, I accept the fact that, stray animals are at times, create unbearable and irritating nuisances. I find it difficult to comprehend why the pet lovers and NGO's are against this unique initiative of the Selayang Municipal Council. The fact of the matter is, the competition is aimed at reducing the number of stray dogs, and the council also stated very clearly that the stray dogs must be captured alive in compliance with its various bylaws.

If we can allowed monkey to be captured and sold for export revenues, why are we so objectionable to humane capturing of stray dogs for better management thereafter ? It is easy for pet lovers to protest the initiative, but again, if the pet lovers are responsible and caring in the first place, they should not have allowed their pets to become strayed in the street. Perhaps, to ease the fear of NGO such as Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Petpositive, Malaysian Animal Rights and Welfare Society, etc., the municipal council should provide documentary guideline and compliance on how the stray dogs will be handled once they are captured and handed over to the council. Maybe, Selayang Municipal Council can become the first council in Malaysia to train stray dogs to cripple pirated VCD rings.

Beside stray dogs, I personally encountered more problems coping with stray cats than stray dogs. The problems with stray cats are (1) indiscriminate dropping of smelly feces, (2) irritating noises in the middle of nights that disrupt sleeps, (3) unsightly and indiscriminate scavenging for foods, etc. Sincerely, I do hope the Selayang Municipal Council can extend the “dog catching” initiative to include also “Cat Catching”. It is beyond my comprehension that why all the various town councils are not taking the necessary action to also control the problems of stray cats. The stray cats are as much a nuisance as the stray dogs. Let's hope all the town and municipal councils can come up with effective and humane initiatives to deal with stray animals irregardless of whether it is a scobby-doo or pussy cat. Or perhaps, only the dogs are targeted because warm pussies are too irresistible to be caged ?

“ Ooh, pussycat pussycat, where have you been? I've been up to London to visit the Queen. Pussycat pussycat, what did you dare? I frightened a little mouse under her chair. MEOWW! “ Here goes, the pussycats have been decreed by the Queen of England to romp anywhere they like. So, Her Majesty's order is our command. Le's love the cats.....

Scobby-doo, don't feel so bad, here is a poem to cheer you up :

A Dogs Soul
(by unknown )

Every dog must have a soul
Somewhere deep inside
Where all his hurts and grievances
Are buried with his pride.
Where he decides the good and bad,
The wrong way from the right,
And where his judgement carefully
Is hidden from our sight.
A dog must have a secret place
Where every thought abides,
A sort of close acquaintance that
He trusts in and confides.
And when accused unjustly for
Himself, He cannot speak,
Rebuked, He finds within his soul
The comfort he must seek.
He'll love, tho'he is unloved,
And he'll serve tho'badly used,
And one kind word will wipe away
The times when he's abused.
Altho' his heart may break in two
His love will still be whole,
Because God gave to every dog
An understanding Soul!