LABUAN: The Veterinary Services Department today revealed that there was a 30 per cent rise in the number of reported animal abuse cases across the country from 510 in 2017 to 662 cases last year.
There was also an increase of 10 per cent from 463 cases in 2016, compared with the previous year, and more than 90 per cent of these cases involved dogs followed by cats.
The increase was mainly due to increased public awareness of animal abuse.
The department’s director-general, Datuk Dr Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam, said between January and June this year, at least 190 cases were recorded with fines totalling RM12,500 from five cases brought to court.
He said a total of RM71,200 in fines were issued to offenders last year, compared to RM15,000 in 2017.
“The number of cases is quite worrying, but it is due to public awareness of the need to address animal cruelty in the country,” he told a press conference after officiating at the Module of Early Education on Animal Care and Welfare at the Financial Park Complex, here, today.
The publication of the module, drawn up by the department in collaboration with the Department of National Unity and Integration, is intended to impart knowledge on animal care, handling and welfare in early education to children in pre-schools, before extending it to the primary and secondary schools as part of the co-curriculum.
Dr Quaza Nizamuddin advised the public, regardless of race or religion, not to be cruel to animals.
Equipped with smart phones, the public can now easily capture acts of cruelty to animals and make these go viral, he said.
“Receiving complaints furnished with videotaped evidence help smoothen our investigations and to take action accordingly,” he said.
He reminded the public of deterrent sentences of up to 20 years’ jail and higher fines under the Animal Welfare Act 2015, deemed as heavier penalties compared to causing injury to humans.
On animal-borne diseases, he said rabies in Sarawak was still a menace to the public and a big challenge to his department.
He said the department always prioritised preventive measures so that any outbreak could be addressed effectively.
“As for African swine fever, we must be fully prepared for a possible outbreak in our country and preventive measures are being taken,” he said. – Bernama.