Rompin council stands by decision to shoot pet dog Barney

District council chief Mohd Zulkifli Hashim says any dog walking in public without its owner in sight, will be shot, even if wearing a collar and licence.

PETALING JAYA: The Rompin local council is standing by its decision to shoot a resident’s pet dog last month, despite it wearing a collar with a valid licence.

The district local council’s chief, Mohd Zulkifli Hashim, admitted that the pet dog was killed by the council, in a joint operation with the Pahang Veterinary Department.

The operation, he said in a statement to FMT, was carried out on Aug 22 and 23 to prevent the spread of rabies, and to ensure “public safety”.

“Investigations conducted following the dog owner’s complaint, found that the dog was wandering around Pantai Hiburan Rompin’s public space without the owner’s supervision.

“Owners of licensed dogs should not let their pets roam around without supervision.”

The dog’s owner, Chong Man Sin told FMT a couple of days after the Aug 23 incident, that he found his dog named Barney lying motionless on the ground, at the back of his house, with what he suspected to be a bullet wound to the dog’s body.

However, Mohd Zulkifli clarified that according to the bylaws of the Rompin local council, dog owners must take appropriate steps to ensure their dogs did not wander out of their premises on their own.

The bylaws also state that if a dog is out in public, it must be leashed and walked by its owner.

“Any dog, licensed or not, whose owner cannot be found, can be shot on the council’s instruction, or by anyone who the council gives such power to,” he said.

Chong had told FMT that he and his wife had done everything the law required of them, in order to keep Barney.

They obtained a licence from the Rompin local council, vaccinated him and made sure he was in good health. They even ensured Barney wore a collar at all times so no one would mistake him for a stray.

However, on the morning of Aug 23, Chong found Barney dead, after he forgot to tie up the dog like he usually did every night. - FMT