KUALA LUMPUR: A group of animal rights activists will file a civil suit against the Besut District Council (MDB) for killing a stray dog, known affectionately to locals as 'Kopi'.
Lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan said they want the officers involved in shooting and killing the dog on Oct 6 to be charged.
"We want those involved to face charges under the Animal Welfare Act 2015.
"We will also not accept the police report lodged on the incident to be listed as 'no further action' (NFA). Action must be taken against those responsible," he told reporters outside the Sentul police headquarters today.
He said the civil suit will be filed at the Terengganu High Court next week.
Rajesh hoped that no more stray dogs would be killed in the future.
Meanwhile, Selangor Furry Future Association president S. Shashi Kumar said the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) should also be held responsible.
"We will submit a memorandum to DVS this Friday. This cruelty towards animals must stop," he said.
Meanwhile, Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the issue of justice for animals cannot be compromised.
"We urge the authorities to emphasise on animal welfare. There is no solid justification for the Besut district council officers to kill Kopi," he said.
MDB recently drew criticism after a stray dog, named Kopi by the locals, was shot in an operation by the council on Oct 6.
Social media account My Forever Doggo, in a post on Instagram, claimed that residents saw a local council representative in Terengganu shoot the dog.
MDB chairman Sukeri Ibrahim had defended the shooting, saying it was done in accordance with standard operating procedures established by the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
He said the council had between Jan to Sept this year, received 62 complaints from the public about stray dogs in the district.