Close down pets shops that abuse animals

FOR the past few months, I have been a regular visitor to various pet shops in my state and others too to buy food supplies for my pet fish and birds. To my horror, I have never seen animals being abused openly as much as in the pet shops in Malaysia.

According to Peta’s site, pet shops treat puppies, kittens, birds, hamsters, mice, rabbits and other animals as if they are fashion accessories and sell them to anyone who plunks down a credit card.

I think Peta will reword their definition when they see the horrifying condition of some pet shops in our country.

Here’s what I have seen in some pet shops here:

1. Birds, especially budgies, are crammed in cages, fighting for space and full of filth;

2. Birds, including exotic birds, are bald. When birds pick at their feathers, it is a sign of stress and neglect. Birds need showers but pet shop owners or caretakers do not care about this. Without their shower and living in filthy condition, birds get parasites on their body, and that is also another reason why they pick at their feathers;

3. Finches in huge numbers are crammed in tiny cages. The Bengalese finches have their long outer tail feathers plucked regularly to prevent them from flying higher;

4. Dead birds are not removed from their cages immediately and, worse, the carcasses are left floating in the drinking water, making other birds traumatised and unable to drink water;

5. Lizards are kept outside under scorching heat;

6. A large cat is kept in a small wire cage which prevents it from moving about without bending its body; and

7. A dog kept for breeding is left inside a concrete cage in darkness at the back of the pet shop. This is horrific as the dog does not even know if it’s day or night as it’s hidden from the light.

I am so angry that these people are allowed to run pet shops when they are outrightly abusive and neglectful of the animals. What’s worse is they would boldly increase the price of the animals and food supplies because they know this business is not monitored by the relevant authorities.

If someone in our neighbourhood mistreats animals, he or she would be brought to book. What about owners of pet shops?

The Veterinary Department must conduct regular checks, if possible once a month, on pet shops to monitor their conditions. The relevant authorities shouldn’t wait for someone to make a complaint before they take action.

I can make a complaint where I am to stop this abuse but how about somewhere else where people are too busy or couldn’t care less to lodge report?

We need a nationwide crack- down on all pet shops ASAP to stop the ongoing animal abuse. Revoke the licence of pet shop owners if they are caught with animals living in horrendous conditions.

Most pet shops in Malaysia have stickers on the entrance and/or cages prohibiting customers from taking pictures. This must be lifted as people cannot take pictures to expose the abuse of animals in these premises.

ARIANA NOT GRANDE Sungai Siput (U), Perak