Oh no, a RM30,000 fine!
Owner tearfully regrets neglecting her two dogs
GEORGE TOWN: A 40-year-old woman learnt the hard way about animal cruelty when she was fined RM30,000 by the Sessions Court here for neglecting her two dogs.
Sobbing as she pleaded guilty, Oh Ju Lian tried to reason with judge Mazdi Abdul Hamid that she was remorseful.
Mazdi had earlier asked the clerk why she had left the dogs in an empty house, causing one of them to die and leaving the other in a bad condition.
Oh told the court that the two dogs were left at her mother-in-law’s place to keep her company.
But after her mother-in-law passed away, Oh said she could not relocate the dogs to her current home due to space constraints.
“My mother-in-law had tuberculosis and for fear of contracting it, I moved out with my husband and two children to a house on the mainland.
“My mother-in-law had asked if she could keep the dogs as company which we agreed.
“When she passed away, we could not bring the dogs to my new home as it is small,” she told the court in between sobs yesterday.
Oh was charged with giving unreasonable treatment to the two dogs belonging to her, causing them unnecessary pain and suffering on March 4, 2019 at about 3pm at a house in Pepper Estate.
The charge under Section 29(1)(e) of the Animal Welfare Act 2015 is punishable under Section 29(1) of the same Act and carries a fine of not less than RM20,000 or not more than RM100,000, a prison term of up to three years or both, upon conviction.
Oh, who was unrepresented, said she was remorseful for her actions and urged the court for lenient punishment as her husband was ill.
“My husband has high blood pressure and diabetes. He only found a job recently after being unemployed for some time.
“I only earn RM2,000 and have two children studying on the island. I live on the mainland and have to commute every day to the island,” she said.
Penang Veterinary Department enforcement head Roziman Awang Tahrin, acting as the prosecutor, pressed for a deterrent sentence as this was a case of public interest and sensitive issue.
“The forensic report on both dogs showed that they were starved with signs of neglect. She had caused suffering and harm to two dogs.
“They are animals which cannot speak and express their pain. As a person who has thinking capacity, this should not be allowed.
“The dog that died was still tied up and was infested with maggots.
“There was a terrible stench when the dogs were discovered. The other dog that is alive was in a bad condition,” he said.
Roziman said this showed that the accused did not treat the dogs with care, adding that a proper punishment should be meted out to send a message that animal cruelty would be dealt with severely.
He then requested that the dog, which is now under the Veterinary Department’s custody, be surrendered to the department.
Mazdi granted the department custody of the dog and said that if Oh failed to pay the fine, she would have to serve 10 months in jail in default.
The dog was produced outside the court complex when Oh was charged in court.
At press time, Oh’s family was seen making arrangement to settle the fine.