KUALA LUMPUR: The Besut District Council (MDB) has defended its recent shooting of a stray dog in Jerteh, which has drawn flak from the public.
MDB chairman Sukeri Ibrahim said the move aligned with standard operating procedures (SOP) established by the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
The council recently drew criticism after a stray dog, named Kopi by the locals, was shot in an operation by the council on Sept 6.
Sukeri said the operation to capture and destroy stray dogs in Jerteh was carried out involving 25 personnel from MDB, the Besut District Veterinary Office and the Kota Putera State Legislative Assembly office.
He said between Jan to Sept this year, the council received 62 complaints from the public about stray dogs in the district.
"We also received complaints on a pack of aggressive stray dogs around Jerteh BSN, which had attacked and disturbed people passing through the area," he said in a statement.
Sukeri also commented on criticism against MDB by Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia (SAFM) on Oct 12.
SAFM, condemning the shooting, said it violated animal rights and reflected a failure in stray animal management.
Sukeri in response said the operation was done according to the Dog Licensing By-Laws (Besut District Council) 1990.
"The by-law states that any dog, whether licensed or not, whose owner cannot be located, can be destroyed or disposed of as instructed by the council president or authorised officer," he said.
The council's actions, he said, were also aligned with Section 30 of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, which permits the use of firearms under certain circumstances.
He also rejected claims that the council officers had abandoned the dog's remains after shooting it.
"The claim that the dog was left unattended is untrue, as it follows the SOP, which stipulates that the dog needs to be buried. However, the officers were obstructed by the complainant and were unable to retrieve the dog's carcass.
He said while the state government had expressed concern over the issue, the council's actions abided by the appropriate procedures on the ground.
"Additionally, they understand the challenges faced by local authorities in prioritising public safety from the threat of stray dogs," he said.
Sukeri said a discussion must be conducted between local authorities and non-governmental organisations to address the increasing complaints regarding stray dogs each year.
Previously, the social media account My Forever Doggo, in a post on Instagram, claimed that residents saw a local council representative in Terengganu shoot the dog, affectionately called Kopi, during an operation on Oct 6.