KUCHING: Dog owners living within areas administered by the Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) must obtain licenses for their pets.
DBKU, in a statement today, said the issuance of the license as stipulated under the City of Kuching North (Dog License) By-laws, 1991 is to enable the council to monitor and take preventive action to control the spread of rabies and other diseases related to dogs.
Errant dog owners who fail to adhere with the requirements, will be slapped with a RM500 fine for the first offence or RM1,000 for the second and subsequent offences.
The owners, said DBKU, must fulfill several conditions to obtain the licence.
"They are required to ensure their pets remain within the compound of the house and that the dogs should not be allowed to roam outside.
"Their pet must be restrained, guarded and placed under the care of owners at all times when taking dogs for a walk.
"They must ensure their pet will not attack or harm the public, livestock as well as cause damages to public property," said City Hall in the statement.
According to the by-laws, the annual licence fee per dog is RM10 and each premises is only allowed a maximum of three dogs.
Dog owners are required to pay RM30 for each additional dog if they have exceeded the limit.
"Dog owners who have obtained the licence must ensure that the identification tag issued by DBKU is present on the collar of their pet at all times."