BY: CATHERINE SAW

The recent cold blooded shooting of four stray dogs and the capture of another 24 dogs in Kampar caught the attention of animal lovers in the country and abroad as to how stray animals are dealt with by Malaysia and not just dogs but other animals.

It is time to deal in a most humane way with troublesome animals. The case of a rogue elephant being shot dead was cited by an animal lover in Sabah all because it went on a rampage and destroyed a farmer’s crops.

It is time for wildlife officials and district council enforcement officers to go through a proper course of study on how to deal with stray and rogue animals and not just to have a trigger happy solution by killing animals.

Animals must be loved and appreciated as they entertain us and make us happy as pets. The fact that they cannot communicate with us does not mean that there is no need to put in effort to try and understand them.

Why do they behave as they do? There must be a logical explanation and even if you are not an animal lover please do not degrade them and behave like animals towards them by engaging in acts of cruelty and killing them for the sale of their valued body parts.

There is a reason why there is the presence of animals besides human beings on this earth. As custodians of this earth it is incumbent upon us to ensure the whole wide earth is taken care of including the welfare of animals.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher