LUMUT: "These two dogs are my 'co-workers' and their presence has kept the naughty wild monkeys here under control as they are afraid of them."
Security guard Hairol Nizam Mohd Zaki, 37, who looked after the two dogs, said they had helped guard the Mangrove Swamp Park here in the last two months.
Puppy and Johny, he said, had piqued the interest of many, including the Manjung Municipal council staff as the dogs were obedient and always keen to help.
"Initially, I was afraid to go near Puppy and Johny.
"But I took pity on them and began to feed them. They have been in this park ever since," he said.
Hairol Nizam said the dogs' presence helped keep the monkeys from entering a nearby housing area.
"Each time the monkeys try to leave the park, I will get on my motorcycle and call Puppy and Johny to join me to chase the primates back to the mangrove area.
"It took me only a week to train the dogs. They now know what to do (whenever they see the monkeys).
"The primates no longer harass the park's visitors due to the dogs' presence," he said.
He said the dogs would also bark at those who tried to feed the monkeys.
"It is better for the wild monkeys to search for food in their natural habitat."
Although the dogs were tame, he said, the two would not go near or pester visitors.
He added that Puppy and Johny would also not defecate along the park's footpaths as they were toilet-trained.
As of Wednesday, the dogs are now part of the Manjung Municipal Council.
Its president, Syamsul Hazeman Md Salleh, said this would be the first time that the council owned dogs.
He added that it would be applying for dog licences for Puppy and Johny.