THE alarming trend of animal abuse in the country is of great concern and urgent action is needed to stop it.
According to Penang Veterinary Services Department chief Dr Saira Banu, cases of cat and dog abuse are on the rise in Penang.
Abuse may take many different forms such as beating, scalding, suffocating, bestiality, poisoning, shooting, bashing, starving, mutilation, and animal hoarding.
Essentially, animal cruelty is any form of treatment that causes physical and/or emotional suffering and trauma to the animal victim.
In 2019, the Penang Veterinary Services Department recorded 82 cases of dog abuse; 86 in 2020; 98 in 2021; and 253 in 2022.
There was a four-fold increase in cruelty to cats as it was reported that it rose from 31 cases in 2021 to 134 cases in 2022.
Horses, goats, cows, hamsters, and rabbits were included in the list of animal abuse.
While animal abuse is common in Malaysia, its true scale is mostly unknown due to the absence of reported incidents resulting from public ignorance and apathy.
Animal cruelty, abuse, and neglect cross all social and economic boundaries in both rural and urban areas.
Since the actual number of abuse cases is not known, case counts are not reliable indicators. This highlights the need for effective, evidence-based preventive programmes.
The latest incidents of animal abuse includes an injured stray dog that was bludgeoned to death, a dog beaten and left to die while attached to a leash, a kitten tat was doused with paint, and the current methods used by the authorities to catch and kill strays.
Ignoring situations like these will only encourage more abnormal behaviour and the mistreatment of animals cannot be condoned.
Besides domestic abusers, local councils like the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) and Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MBPJ) are also involved in the abuse from the way strays are caught and culled.
Surveys suggest that acts of animal abuse are often motivated by strong emotions, such as hatred or anger, prejudice against a specific species (such as dogs or cats), or retaliation against another person or animal to acquire a feeling of power and control or to gain pleasure from the pain and suffering of another living creature (sadistic behaviour).
Intentional cruelty to animals is strongly correlated with other crimes, including violence against people.
Despite the Animal Welfare Act of 2015 allowing punishment for the abuse of animals, many animal abusers remain unpunished because of unreported cases or lack of deterrent action.
Therefore, we urge harsh punishments for animal abuse.
The fight against animal abuse requires collaboration from individuals, communities, governments, and animal protection organisations.
To stop people from abusing animals and provide justice to the harmed animals, it is important that animal protection legislation be strengthened.
It is critical to influence legislative initiatives that support ethical pet ownership.
The public should report any known cases to the authorities to teach offenders about the gravity of their acts and to raise awareness among the public.
The authorities have to ensure that offenders cannot get away with a light punishment.
MOHIDEEN ABDUL KADER
President
Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)