Bar president Ezri Abdul Wahab says the overpopulation of stray dogs must be addressed with compassion and by adhering to legal principles.
Bar president Ezri Abdul Wahab said the professional body firmly opposed the move, adding that any issue of overpopulation must be addressed legally and with compassion.
He said the state government’s plan to cull stray dogs was inhumane and amounted to a breach of both procedural and substantive law.
“Local councils hold no position or authority to cull dogs and there are no laws that allow councils to do so of their own accord,” he said in a statement.
He said the plan contradicted Sections 29 and 30(1) of the Animal Welfare Act, which criminalise causing unnecessary suffering to animals and outline the proper management of stray animals.
He also called on the veterinary services department and the Animal Welfare Board to intervene and halt the state government’s planned mass culling of stray dogs.
Last week, the Negeri Sembilan state assembly unanimously agreed that some stray dogs in predominantly Malay-Muslim residential areas should be culled to address safety concerns.
Menteri besar Aminuddin Harun cited increasing complaints and public safety risks as reasons for the proposed culling, which would be handled by the local authorities.
Rajesh Nagarajan of Lawyers for Animal Rights slammed the state government over its plan, describing the move as illegal.
He said only the veterinary services department was legally allowed to cull dogs and any killing of dogs conducted by the state government would run afoul of the law.
He also appealed to the state government to engage animal welfare groups to assist in rolling out a trap, neuter and spay programme. - FMT
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