Owner seeks status of captured dog
KUCHING: A pet owner is appealing to the authorities to update her on the status of her licensed dog, which was captured by the Padawan Municipal Council ( MPP) on Wednesday.
According to Queennie Cheng, 33, the dog was taken away at 11.32am but she was never officially informed of the capture or how to reclaim her pet.
She claimed the dog had somehow escaped from her house compound although she had secured it before she left home that day.
“I don’t even know whether my dog is dead or alive. I want to know the condition of my dog. Rumours say that my dog is dead but the authorities are not telling me anything,” she told a press conference yesterday.
After returning home at 12.45pm and realising the dog was missing, Cheng said she went round the neighbourhood and also posted details on social media.
“I was hoping that someone had seen my dog and would inform me of it. Only at about 8pm when I was at a wedding dinner, someone told me that my dog was captured,” she said.
“At 9pm, I rushed to DVS ( Department of Veterinary Services) where I met an officer. I showed him a photo of my dog. But I was told that I had to check with MPP.”
Cheng went to MPP before 9am on Thursday to check with the Licensing Section but was told the council had no clue about her dog.
She also personally contacted MPP chairman Lo Khere Chiang, who asked her to send all the information and photos to him.
“I did not hear from Lo the whole day until 11.22pm. I received a text from him, which says that any dog that’s captured by the council will be sent to DVS and he asked me to check with DVS,” she complained.
“I’d like to know where my dog is. If my dog is indeed put to sleep, let me know. I was told that dog owners have 48 hours to claim their dogs if captured by the local councils. In this case, where are my 48 hours? Where is my dog? If I’m not allowed to see my dog, at least tell me an answer, even if my dog is dead.”
Cheng also addressed criticism on social media against her dog.
“I bought my dog when it was still a puppy from a pet shop in March 2016. My dog was not banned and I even take good care by bringing my dog to an animal clinic regularly,” she said.
She explained that the dog was seen with a pack of other dogs when it escaped on Wednesday morning.
“My dog was seen playing with other dogs. But when a fight broke out, all the dogs dispersed while only my dog and the other dog stayed. I don’t know how my dog (could have) killed two dogs as reported,” she added.
Meanwhile, Stampin member of Parliament Julian Tan also called for information from MPP.
“Queennie says she registered her dog, so the council should have a record. When a dog is registered and captured by the council, the dog owner is given 48 hours to claim,” he said.
However, Tan said he could understand the current situation, which is critical, due to the rabies outbreak.
“Whether the dog has been put to sleep or not, the owner needs an answer. But the dog owner is still being kept in the dark. So what is the whole point of registering the dogs?” he questioned.