The animals needs US

I think sometime last year, I was invited to sign a petition from the SPCA (Malaysia). The petition was to be handed to the Prime Minister for harsher penalties on acts of animal cruelty. For me personally, inhumane treatment of animals is just horrendous. Here is an excerpt from the SPCA website:

SPCA Calls for Harsher Penalties for Animal AbuseFollowing the recent two cases brought to Court by Jabatan Haiwan Enforcement Officers (DVS), SPCA is appealing to the Courts and the Law makers and decision makers to take into account the seriousness of these cases and the inadequate penalties at present are being issued.The first case, a Breeder in Cheras was fined RM200 for cruelty to 13 dogs, the charge was expected to be for each individual dog (i.e. 13 X RM200) and the lack of a ban of keeping animals after prosecution for cruelty means that each dog was returned to the owner to continue a life of suffering and production.The second case, a Daschund named Tim, was chained so tightly round his neck that the chain had become embedded into the skin and a six inch wound exposed a bloody mess around his neck. The owner in this case was fined RM200 and had to spend one day in jail. The dog is to be returned to the owner. Tim is still recovering from his injury and several operations to remove the chain from his neck.According to the Law in Malaysia the maximum fine for cruelty to animals is RM200 and/or 6 months imprisonment. SPCA is appealing both cases at present and will aim to have the 13 dogs and Tim surrendered to SPCA’s animal home in Ampang Jaya.SPCA is appealing that the Animal Ordinance 1953 is amended to first of all increase the fine to a realistic fee (after all a pedigree puppy costs about RM1000 – 2000 today) and imposes a BAN on KEEPING ANIMALS following prosecution for CRUELTY.Add your name and voice to a petition appealing for amendments to the law protecting animals in Malaysia which will be handed over to the authorities at World Animal Day in October.Animal lovers all over Malaysia petition for a pro-active government stance on the prevention of cruelty to animals by passing effective and deterrant legislation:

1.Increasing the cruelty fine from RM200 (since 1953) significantly higher to around RM 10,000.00 and increase jail time.

2.A life time ban on animal ownership for those charged with cruelty to animals --- animals therefore cannot be returned to the owners.

3.To urge the public to be responsible pet owners - spay/neuter their pets, adequate food, space, exercise, love and mediacal attention and to be considerate neighbours.

However, just today, I found out through a Bulletin posted at Friendster that they did not have enough signatures to petition the PM. I have 3 dogs, a large enclosure of fish, birds who nest at trees around my house and I was the former President of the Environmentalist Club (Kelab Pencinta Alam) at high school. Therefore, it is safe to say that I'm an animal lover. But, I think anyone, even those not so fond of animals should sign this petition.

It is just absurd that the penalty for such degrading treatment of animals is so low. I use the word 'degrading' not because it degrades the animal, but, it degrades mankind itself, for how can we claim to be superior beings when we cannot even show compassion?

Please do something for the animals in Malaysia. Sign the petition at www.catzmedia.com/spca/petitions/index.asp. For those who have blogs, PLEASE reprint this post at your blog. We need more awareness about this issue!