What we have witnessed in the last few months is nothing short of the perverse abuse of power and injustice towards animals.

A 19-year-old man who burned a dog only received a one-year bond for good behaviour and evaded his caning sentence.

The dog in question suffered second-degree burns and was beaten within an inch of her life, but the judicial system demonstrates that animal cruelty is not taken as seriously as it should be.

An MBPJ officer allegedly assaulted an old man after capturing the dogs and putting them in the pound. The dogs contracted distemper, and the old man was counter-sued for obstruction.

We knew it was a matter of time before these so-called officials believed they were gods who could do as they wished. The time came sooner than expected. This week, we have received reports of an elderly man who died while trying to stop Bentong dog catchers.

What are the regulations, and why are these officials, whom we pay our hard-earned taxes, being so aggressive in their need to capture the dogs?

We are not privy to the statistics on how effective our existing dog-catching model has been in reducing the stray population. In fact, it is logically a redundant approach. Stray population control must be addressed at the source:

(1) People who acquire dogs and then give them up without making the responsible choice to neuter them.
(2) People who abandon their pets, especially unneutered ones.
(3) Pet shops, backyard breeders, and individuals who breed their pets without concern for regulations.

Most importantly, it is about transitioning from the killing of dogs to trap, neuter, release. Here are logical reasons why the current method is not working:

(1) Not everyone wants to be a party to the killing of animals; you need the involvement of the public.
(2) When you establish that murder is permissible, who is there to say that torture is not? Let's not forget the recently viral dog pound where the dogs were starved to death.
(3) There are even stories about civilians who spend their own money to neuter the dogs in certain areas marked with a cropped ear that these holligan of dog catches still take to make a quick buck from the bail money knowing full well the civilian will want bail them out. At the very least leave the neutered dogs alone. 
(4) Now that killing and torturing dogs are not enough, is it suddenly justifiable to harm civilians when performing public duties? What's next?

As Malaysia works towards becoming Malaysia Madani, I implore you to please gather as many signatures on this petition as possible so that we can give voice to the voiceless. This issue is not only about animals but also about the legacy we want to leave behind.

In Penang, IAPWA works together with the local council to trap-neuter-release all free roaming dogs in Penang. There has not been a single euthanasia for the past 5 years and they have actual statistics of proving the method is effective to control the stray population or even reduce it. By signing this petition you are also saying Yes like the people in Penang who play an active role to manage the stray population in a humane and educated way.