Pet owners who intend to return to their hometowns during the extended Movement Control Order (MCO) period should be fully responsible for the well-being of their pets including providing proper lodging, healthcare and diet.
Lawyer Nor Zabetha Muhammad Nor said if they fail to do so, the owner is liable to a fine of up to RM75,000 or imprisonment of up to two years, or both, upon conviction, as provided under the Animal Welfare Act 2015.
She said under the Animal Welfare Act, pet owners are fully responsible for the well-being of the animals under their care.
"Under Section 24 of the Act, pet owners and license holders have certain responsibilities,” she said.
"They have to take responsible steps to ensure the needs of an animal are fulfilled which include a suitable environment, suitable diet, ability to exhibit its normal behaviour patterns and to be housed with or separated from other animals, and to protect their pets from pain, suffering, injury and disease," she told Bernama today.
The lawyer also added that the owner will be punished under Section 44 (1) (d) of the Animals Act 1953 (Revised 2006), if they leave their pet without taking proper care such as sufficient food and locked in a cage or in the house, which was an act of causing unnecessary pain or suffering to the animal.
"If found guilty, the owner is liable to a fine of not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both," she said.
The lawyer also said that leaving pets alone in the house with food was not a good idea because sometimes the owner might be take a little longer to come back home and this will cause suffering to the pet.
"Asking for someone to come to your house is also not a good idea during this MCO period as movement is limited. Your pet is your family, so treat them like a family member.
"My advice is not to treat them with cruelty. If your intention is to keep a dog, just keeping them on a chain or making them a guard for your security is wrong. Stop treating dogs like your slaves. Animals are innocent and pure, we humans are supposed to protect them with love and care," she stressed. -- BERNAMA
Bernama
Thu Mar 26 2020
Under the Animal Welfare Act, pet owners are fully responsible for the well-being of the animals under their care. - FILEpic
Penunjuk perasaan Palestin tempelak wartawan AS
Mereka menuduh wartawan A.S sembunyikan dan berikan gambaran salah mengenai perang di Gaza.
Lawatan ke Riyadh: Blinken melawat Arab Saudi esok
Setiausaha Negara Amerika Syarikat, Antony Blinken akan melawat Arab Saudi pada Isnin untuk bertemu dengan rakan serantau dan membincangkan usaha mencapai gencatan senjata di Gaza dan pembebasan tebusan Israel.
Iraq lulus akta penjara maksimum 15 tahun
Parlimen Iraq meluluskan undang-undang yang menjenayahkan hubungan sejenis dengan hukuman penjara maksimum 15 tahun pada Sabtu.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: MB nafi rumah terbuka Selangor langgar akta
Penganjuran Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri Peringkat Negeri Selangor yang diadakan pada Sabtu malam di pekan Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) di sini, tidak melanggar Akta Kesalahan Pilihan Raya 1954 (AKPR).
Pengurus rumah kebajikan didenda RM4,500 cederakan warga emas
Seorang pengurus rumah kebajikan didenda RM4,500 selepas mengaku bersalah mendatangkan kecederaan kepada seorang warga emas.
Amiruddin nafi rumah terbuka langgar peraturan pilihan raya
Menteri Besar Selangor Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari menafikan dakwaan bahawa penganjuran Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri oleh kerajaan negeri di pekan Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) pada Sabtu, melanggar peruntukan Akta Kesalahan Pilihan Raya 1954.
Misi teroka peluang ekonomi, tarik pelaburan baharu di WEF - Anwar
Malaysia dalam misi meneroka pelbagai peluang ekonomi dan menarik pelaburan baharu pada Mesyuarat Khas Forum Ekonomi Dunia (WEF) di Riyadh, Arab Saudi yang akan berlangsung dua hari bermula hari ini.
Polis Jerman rampas 4 Bugatti Veyron
Jerman merampas empat kereta model Bugatti Veyron yang jarang ditemui dari kemudahan simpanan persendirian di Munich, Jerman, yang dikaitkan dengan skandal 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), menurut laporan media Jerman.
AWANI Ringkas: Dijangka diniagakan sekitar RM4.77 berbanding dolar AS
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Mutawif pimpin jemaah 'istimewa' tunai umrah guna tongkat
Menjadi impian umat Islam di seluruh dunia termasuk golongan kurang upaya untuk menjejakkan kaki ke tanah suci Makkah bagi menunaikan ibadah haji dan umrah.