An unemployed Kuala Lumpur-area man was sentenced to four days in prison and fined RM8,000 (US$2,000) in lieu of prison time for neglecting his pet dog. The canine, a Siberian Husky, was found chained to a gas cylinder, with a tick infestation on its body, as well as skin and ear infections that were inundated with maggots.
He was also slapped with a nearly RM7,000 grooming and treatment bill to treat the abused animal, that must be paid within three months to the Federal Territories Veterinary Department.
Officials from the department had initially tried to persuade the man, 35-year-old Lai Yik Loy, to give them access to the pooch; however, the owner denied them entry. After obtaining a warrant, authorities returned to the man’s home on Lorong Peel, Petaling Jaya to find the dog in appalling conditions. In addition to the skin, and ear infections, one of the dog’s eyes was badly swollen, cloudy, and oozing discharge.
Lai was subsequently arrested, while the dog was taken into custody. The incident occurred September 27, 2017.
The Veterinary department’s prosecutor, Hasiah Musa, had asked the courts to impose the maximum sentence under the law, which would see Lai slapped with an RM10,000 (US$2,500) fine, and one year in jail. Musa also asked for the man to be denied any future pet ownership.
She highlighted that the animal had suffered needlessly prior to the authorities getting involved in the situation. Lai had remained uncooperative throughout the ordeal.
The defendant asked the judge to be lenient, explaining that he was unemployed and needed to support his parents, and girlfriend, who lived with him.
Yes, that’s right. Three other people were in that house and aware of the defenceless animal’s suffering, yet all remained complicit in their silence.
Humans are garbage, version 2030491048.
The dog has since been taken in by the Veterinary department, and will be put up for adoption.
