Guan Eng urged to revoke cull order on strays

GEORGE TOWN: Animal activists and dog lovers from 12 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) converged on the state administration building to urge Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (pix) to revoke the order for the mass culling of stray dogs after two cases of rabies were reported in the state.
The 12 NGOs included the Penang Animal Welfare Society (4PAWS), Save Our Strays (SOS), The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Seberang Prai, SPCA Kulim, Kuala Lumpur Fur Kids Farm, Zero Strays Miri, Cat Beach, Noah's Ark Ipoh, Second Chance Animal Society and SPCA Kedah.
A spokesperson from the newly formed "Stop the Killing" group Lim Li Lian said there are more effective options than culling which is cruel and inhumane.
"The method of indiscriminate culling of all stray dogs should not be given consideration over a vaccination programmes which is more effective.
"Therefore, we would like to suggest to the state government to catch and quarantine stray dogs who have been in contact with the affected dogs for 14 days," she told reporters outside Komtar today.
Lim said after this quarantine period, dogs who are not affected can be vaccinated and released while only infected dogs should be put to sleep.
She said international NGOs were also concerned about the mass culling ordered by the state, adding that Mission Rabies was willing to come to Penang and assist the state government in resolving the rabies problem in the state.
"We got an email reply from Mission Rabies that they are willing to help the state government in October to curb the problem in a better way.
"Hence, we are calling on the chief minister to cancel the order," she said.
A committee member of the group Dalbinder Singh, also attempted to submit a memorandum to Lim to rescind the order. However he was prevented from entering the building and had to hand over the memorandum to security personnel instead.
On Thursday, Lim declared Penang to be a rabies-infected area.
A Rabies-Infected Area (Penang) Order 2015 came into force on Sept 15, where all stray dogs will be put to sleep.
Malaysia's last case of rabies was in 1999 and the World Organisation for Animal Health declared the country rabies free in 2012.