Photo: The Malaysian Times
While the Movement Control Order (MCO) has proven to be difficult for many Malaysians who are trying to make ends meet with barely any income, some have decided to abandon their pets due to their lack of capacity to care for these animals.
Malaysian Animal Association (MAA) reports that pet abandonment for animals such as cats and dogs has tripled around Kuala Lumpur during the MCO.
MAA president, Arie Dwi Andika said that this observation was made based on the fact that there has been an increase of dogs and cats at certain areas that the Animal Feeder group had noticed while feeding the strays in these areas.
Photo: Malaysian Animal Association
"For example, one area always has five dogs, but yesterday the number has increased to 18 and 20, about three-fold. All the dogs that were abandoned in the area were in good health and very clean," he told Bernama.
Arie also said that the dogs were not aggressive and that most were found abandoned in quiet industrial areas rather than in residential areas, as to avoid anyone’s suspicion.
He added that there might be a possibility that these pet owners are acting out of fear of infection or are not able to continue to care for their pets due to loss of income during the difficult time.
"Where has their love for their pets gone? What is the fate of these abandoned dogs and cats that have always considered their owners as their own family and their homes as a place of refuge," he pleaded, urging the authorities to make the installation of a 'microchip identity' in the animal body to help detect the owners who abandoned their pets mandatory.
Meanwhile, Nor Zabetha Muhammad Nor, a lawyer, said those who have been convicted of abandoning their pets till they are left sick, hungry and thirsty, can be charged under the 2015 Animal Welfare Act.
Visit the Malaysia Animal Welfare Association on Facebook to help them in their fight to protect the rights of animals.
By: Siti Farhana Sheikh Yahya
