Rep wants probe into dog carcasses at waste disposal site
MIRI: Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon wants the police to investigate the apparent disposal of diseased or dead animals here, in light of the spread of rabies to the division.
According to Dr Ting, he was informed by a member of the public on Tuesday that dog carcasses had been dumped into a drain at the Kuala Baram waste disposal site, and that many dogs at a pound located nearby were given inadequate food and water.
He said upon receiving the tipoff, he went to the pound – near the truck weighing station – on Wednesday, where 32 dogs were being kept, and found the place to be guarded by two women who claimed to be employees of Miri City Council ( MCC).
“On inspecting the area, we found that a few dog carcasses were disposed into the drain across the pound. Following conversations with residents living nearby and two other staff on site, I suspected that the dogs were disposed by the council staff into the drain,” Dr Ting told reporters after lodging a police report yesterday.
He added that judging by the various states of decomposition, he believed that the carcasses were disposed anywhere from a few weeks ago, to as recently as a day earlier.
“I believe the disposal of the dead dogs is inappropriate and it is unlawful for any person or authority to cast dead or infected animals into any drain, stream, river, street or open space.
“Those who conduct such activity are criminally liable for offences under Chapter 32 of the Veterinary Public Health ( VPH) Ordinance 1999.
Dr Ting, who described the disposal as “very inhumane”, said his intention of highlighting the matter was not to put the blame solely on the staff working at the site as they were only carrying out their duties.
“It is MCC’s responsibility to tell them what to do. These possibly-infected animals should be disposed properly and the best way really is to bury them at least four feet underground so that there will be no risk of further exposure to other animals,” he stressed.
On a related note, he also wanted the police to investigate whether animal cruelty offences had been committed by MCC or their
On inspecting the area, we found that a few dog carcasses were disposed into the drain across the pound. Following conversations with residents living nearby and two other staff on site, I suspected that the dogs were disposed by the council staff into the drain. Dr Ting Tiong Choon, Pujut assemblyman
representatives.
“In view of the press statement by Miri City Mayor yesterday ( Wednesday) that 1,470 dogs had been caught since July 2017 by Miri City Council, I would like the police to investigate whether the 1,470 dogs have been disposed in accordance with the law and whether any appropriate documentation was done.
“I have been informed by people who manage the waste disposal site that no activity of burying dogs has ever been conducted in the area. So, I am not sure where the over-1,000 (caught) dogs are,” he said.
Dr Ting also requested that the State Disaster Management Committee look into the matter.
“We hope this can be a lesson to everyone, that disposing dead animals is actually an important issue in this (rabies) outbreak. It is also a warning to the public and local councils to take this matter seriously.”