IPOH: A suit has been filed at the High Court here against the Kampar District Council (MDK) for the killing of four stray dogs in Taman Kampar Barat.

       Lawyers for Animal Rights (LAR) representative N. Rajesh said they were suing MDK and its enforcement officers under Section 30 of the Animal Welfare Act for wrongfully killing the animals.

       Under Section 30 of the Act, it states that no animal may be killed by gun unless it is authorised by the veterinary authority in an emergency, or for disease control.

       Four stray dogs were reportedly shot dead and 24 dogs captured by MDK enforcement officers during a dog-catching operation on Nov 4.

       MDK president Abdul Halim Saad had reportedly defended the officers, noting that they had acted in self-defence, and they also had written approval from the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) that was issued to all local authorities in the country dated July 9 last year.

       Rajesh said the killing of an animal is a non-delegable matter.

       “Some powers can be delegated and the DVS has power to put a dog down, but how can they give power to everybody?

       “The DVS consists of veterinary doctors and they will do it properly,” he said.

       Sachpreetraj Singh Sohanpal, another representative from LAR, said they also applied for an injunction to restrict MDK from taking action, killing, disposing of or hurting the 24 dogs until the case is resolved.

       “No information has been given about the 24 dogs, despite numerous requests by Keranji assemblyman Chong Zhemin.

       “LAR also made a demand on behalf of the plaintiffs, asking for the status of the dogs but they (MDK) refused to respond, saying there are insufficient information to respond.

       “We filed (the suit and injunction) with urgency before the council kills the animals,” he added.