JERTIH: The shooting of a stray dog named ‘Kopi,’ which sparked an outcry on social media, was carried out in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOP), says Besut District Council (MDB) president Mohd Sukeri Ibrahim.
He also refuted claims that council workers abandoned the dog after it was shot.
“The handling of the stray dog adhered to SOP established by the Housing and Local Government Ministry and complied with Section 30 of the Animal Welfare Act 2015,” he said.
“When our team attempted to retrieve the dog’s remains, they were prevented from doing so by certain individuals,” he added.
He said that the anti-stray operation was conducted in line with Dog Licensing By-Laws (Besut District Council) 1990.
He added that the law allows the use of firearms in specific cases during operations to manage or remove dangerous or wild animals.
“The regulation allows for any licensed or unlicensed dog, whose owner cannot be found, to be removed or handled as instructed by the council president or an authorised officer,” he said.
On Sept 6, 2024, a joint operation involving 25 personnel from MDB, the district veterinary office and the Kota Putera state legislative assembly office was conducted in Jerteh to address the issue of stray dogs.
This he said, followed complaints about a pack of stray dogs near a bank in Jerteh, which had become aggressive and were harassing pedestrians.
Earlier, My Forever Doggo Facebook page shared a 52-second video showing Kopi, the stray dog, succumbing to severe injuries. The dog was found in a nearby housing area after gunshots were heard. – Bernama
