Dogs: Consent from neighbours not required
Pauline PuahPublished: Mar 10, 2006 2:26 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Shah Alam dog owners were elated after being told that a controversial new regulation of having to seek the consent of neighbours before owning a dog will be struck off.
Shah Alam dog owners were elated after being told that a controversial new regulation of having to seek the consent of neighbours before owning a dog will be struck off.
At a meeting with the Shah Alam Mayor Ramli Mahmud and his deputy Za'ba Che Rus yesterday afternoon, the dog owners were told that they only have to "seek views" (dapat pendapat) from their immediate neighbours.
However, if their neighbours object, council officials will call a meeting and deliberate on the reasons given by the contending parties. The council will then have the discretion to make a final decision on such cases.
About 30 dog owners present in the meeting were also promised that only the new dog owners have to "seek views" from their immediate left and right neighbours and not four sides (left, right, back and front) as required earlier.
Za'ba (left) told a press conference after the meeting that only those in terrace houses (corner lots are exempted) have to 'seek views' from their neighbours if they want to keep dogs as pets.
The council had earlier insisted that only those who live in "single-storey houses, corner terrace-houses, factories and executive clubs" can own dogs. This has irked the dog owners.
Heated exchange
Earlier, the meeting saw a brief heated exchange between the mayor and some dog owners.
"Why can't you be a good neighbour by just asking your neighbour's views? It's easier to prevent than to rectify," Ramli told them.
This did not go down well with one of them, who responded: "I am sorry, Dato. I am sorry to say that I think this is very bad logic."
Apparently annoyed, Ramli (left) interjected: "This is based on facts and we have received many complaints (about dogs). Then why did we not follow Putrajaya (city council) by disallowing dogs altogether."
The dog owners reiterated that they should have the freedom to rear pets and that the new regulations have restricted people from owning one.
The council also agreed that the licencing fee for a dog will be RM20 annually and not RM60 as suggested earlier.
Pensioners will be given 50 percent discount while the licencing fee for the disabled will be waived.
Another condition scrapped is that of providing a dog house for the pets. However, the application for a new licence must be accompanied by the latest picture of the pet.
At a meeting with the Shah Alam Mayor Ramli Mahmud and his deputy Za'ba Che Rus yesterday afternoon, the dog owners were told that they only have to "seek views" (dapat pendapat) from their immediate neighbours. However, if their neighbours object, council officials will call a meeting and deliberate on the reasons given by the contending parties. The council will then have the discretion to make a final decision on such cases.
About 30 dog owners present in the meeting were also promised that only the new dog owners have to "seek views" from their immediate left and right neighbours and not four sides (left, right, back and front) as required earlier.
Za'ba (left) told a press conference after the meeting that only those in terrace houses (corner lots are exempted) have to 'seek views' from their neighbours if they want to keep dogs as pets. The council had earlier insisted that only those who live in "single-storey houses, corner terrace-houses, factories and executive clubs" can own dogs. This has irked the dog owners.
Heated exchange
Earlier, the meeting saw a brief heated exchange between the mayor and some dog owners.
"Why can't you be a good neighbour by just asking your neighbour's views? It's easier to prevent than to rectify," Ramli told them.
This did not go down well with one of them, who responded: "I am sorry, Dato. I am sorry to say that I think this is very bad logic."
Apparently annoyed, Ramli (left) interjected: "This is based on facts and we have received many complaints (about dogs). Then why did we not follow Putrajaya (city council) by disallowing dogs altogether." The dog owners reiterated that they should have the freedom to rear pets and that the new regulations have restricted people from owning one.
The council also agreed that the licencing fee for a dog will be RM20 annually and not RM60 as suggested earlier.
Pensioners will be given 50 percent discount while the licencing fee for the disabled will be waived.
Another condition scrapped is that of providing a dog house for the pets. However, the application for a new licence must be accompanied by the latest picture of the pet.
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