KUALA LUMPUR – Following the death of Kopi, a well-known and friendly stray dog in Hulu Terengganu, a stray animal activism group is calling for an immediate investigation into the alleged shooting by officers from the Hulu Terengganu Municipal Council.
Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia (SAFM) has urged police and the Veterinary Services Department to step in and conduct a thorough inquiry into what they describe as a case of “unjustified cruelty.”
Kopi, a black dog with white streaks which was popular with the locals, was said to have been fatally shot by local authorities on October 6, sparking outrage from animal rights activists and the general public, especially on social media platforms.
The stray dog was deemed the “big sister” to the other stray cats and dogs in the area, according to a circulating social media video revealing the tragedy.
SAFM, in a strongly worded statement, questioned the legality of the action, demanding to know who authorised the use of such force.
“Who was responsible for approving this cruel act? It clearly violated ethics and was inhumane,” SAFM said, pressing for accountability from those involved.
The organisation also called on the Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar to take firm action against the individuals and agencies responsible, including the Hulu Terengganu Municipal Council.
The group also highlighted that the incident underscores a larger issue with the management of stray animals in Malaysia, criticising local authorities for failing to adopt humane solutions like Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) or promoting adoption efforts.
TNR is a humane method to control stray animal populations by trapping, neutering, and returning them to their environment, preventing further breeding while allowing the animals to live naturally without resorting to killing them.
“All animals, including stray dogs like Kopi, have the right to live without being tortured. Shooting strays is not an appropriate solution,” SAFM said.
The group has demanded that local councils immediately halt any further killings of stray animals and adopt more ethical approaches to animal management. They also stressed that this case is not an isolated one, calling for a broader investigation into similar incidents.
“Kopi might not be here with us anymore, but our fight for other animals lives on.
“We will not stand by while innocent animals are killed without proper cause. A full investigation must be carried out to ensure this does not happen again,” SAFM said, calling on Malaysians to support their fight for justice for stray animals. – October 12, 2024