Security guard: I’ll pay any amount to get Furby back

PETALING JAYA: For head security guard M. Siva, money is no object as long as he is reunited with his beloved pet Furby.

When told he would be billed for the dog’s veterinary care since April last year, Siva said he had no issue with footing the cost.

The Star visited the Petaling district Veterinary Services Department (DVS) here yesterday, where it learnt that the necessary documents for Furby’s release were being prepared.

This includes a veterinary care bill for Furby’s owner, as the dog had been under the care of the district DVS for about nine months.

“I can’t describe how happy I am,” said Siva, 40.

“I haven’t seen him for nearly a year. I really miss him.”

However, the father of four said the DVS had not contacted him yet.

“Since April, I have only seen pictures of him in the papers,” he said.

Asked if he would be crowdsourcing donations to help pay the bill, Siva, a guard at Taman Melody in Bandar Kinrara, Puchong, said he would not be doing so.

“Whatever the amount is, it’s OK. I’m willing to pay it, so there is no issue.

“However, I’d like to send out thousands of thanks and my appreciation to all those who care about Furby,” said Siva, whose wife runs a flower business.

A clerk at the Petaling district DVS said billing owners for their pets’ veterinary care is standard procedure, adding that the cost for Furby’s care could run up to several hundred ringgit.

“The bill is for his food and drinks, medical care and other costs accumulated since April,” the clerk said.

“The DVS headquarters will prepare the bill. We will only inform Furby’s owner once it has been calculated.”

The white-chocolate male mongrel is said to be in the pink of health and in excellent hands.

When The Star asked to see Furby, however, the clerk said they were under strict orders from headquarters not to allow any visitors, even the owner.

On Monday, Singaporean businessman Yee Kok Chew, 57, was fined RM8,000 in default eight months’ jail by a magistrate’s court here for abusing Furby.

He had been found guilty of bashing the dog with a crash helmet at the Taman Melody guardhouse on April 2.

Yee’s act was captured on video and the clip quickly went viral.