Pet dogs a nuisance to neighbours
Published on: Friday, May 07, 2021
By: Sidney Skinner
City Hall staff speaking to a Kepayan dog-owner about the three adult pets in his keeping.
A Kepayan pet-owner has been advised to ensure that his dogs do not become a nuisance to his neighbours.A spokeswoman for City Hall’s Health and Environment Department said the individual asked to keep his canines within his compound and not allow them to wander unsupervised in the common areas there.
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He was also asked to find homes for the five puppies sired by his two adult dogs, according to her.
“We were made to understand that the dog-owner is in the process of handing over these small canines to a friend who is willing to adopt them,” she said.
“Our staff will keep periodically keep an eye on the goings-on here. Further action will be taken if his canines continue to inconvenience the public in the area.”
The spokeswoman was responding to another rate-payer’s claims that City Hall had failed to crackdown on the number of dogs which her neighbour was rearing.
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The individual claimed that the original pair inside this property had given birth several times since last year, with the family growing with each new litter.
At one stage, she said there were as many as eight full-grown canines in his yard.
The pet owner was asked not to allow his dogs to wander unsupervised in the common areas on this Kepayan housing road.
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She wanted to know how the agency could be turning a blind eye to these developments as the situation seemed to be getting out of hand.
The rate-payer provided Hotline with the location of the home with the canines. This information was forwarded to City Hall.
The spokeswoman shot down the allegation about the agency’s failure to deal with this problem, saying that three inspections had been made of dog-owner’s premises in April alone.
She said City Hall’s Animal Control Unit (ACU) first went to the home on April 16.
“A total of 10 dogs were found inside, three adults and seven puppies,” she said.
“Our staff noted that the full-grown canines were leashed up at the time.”
They also observed that the gate in his front yard was damaged in places.
“This might allow his pets to escape onto the housing road outside without his knowledge.”
She said a notice was given to the dog-owner, asking him to reduce the number of dogs in his keeping, repair the “spaces” in his gate and take steps to minimise the nuisance posed by his pets.
“Our personnel found that only two of the three adults were registered with City Hall.
“They were made to understand that the third belonged to his sister. He was asked to return this dog to its owner.”
The spokeswoman said a follow-up inspection was carried on April 22, after the grace-period for the notice had expired.
“The dog owner was not at home at the time our ACU conducted this check.
“Nevertheless, our personnel found that he had complied with all our earlier instructions, except for the number of canines in his care.”
She said City Hall personnel found that there were seven pets inside the premises.
“Besides his original pair of adult dogs, five of the pups remained. The dog owner was later reminded to relocate the latter.”
The spokeswoman said the ACU returned to the home most recently on April 29, during which time the team was told that the individual was in the process of finding home for his unlicenced pets.
MADDY of Kepayan bemoaned the nuisance created by her neighbour’s pets in Taman Selesa.
She said the female dog had recently given birth and the puppies barked all night, depriving the other residents of a good night’s sleep.
She said the pet-owner also allowed his canines to wander in the common areas around the neighbourhood, even when he was not at home.
“The dogs can be seen on the housing road during the day and, at times, even at night.
“On several occasions, these canines have become aggressive towards each other, with the sound of growling coming from the stretch.”
She said the canines often soiled the section of the verge and road immediately in front of her house.
“We have to check the stretch each time, before we leave or return to our homes, to avoid unknowingly stepping in or driving into the canines’ stool.”
“All of us are fed up of having to hose down the road whenever it is used as a toilet by the dogs.”
On top of this, Maddy expressed her displeasure about the mess left behind when the canines foraged for food among the garbage from her home.
“They tip over my bin and bite through the plastic bags inside, giving me extra work after they leave.”
She said the pet-owner did not seem to be bothered that his canines had become a public nuisance.
“I have nothing against the dogs, but I feel that the owner should at least keep an eye on his pets when they are outside his house before the situation gets out of control.”
Maddy hated to imagine what would happen if an innocent passer-by, including any of the neighbourhood children or an elderly pedestrian, was bitten or mauled by the canines.
She said she had seen the dogs chasing cars and even motorcycles which used the housing road on countless occasions.
“Some of those living here have voiced their displeasure to City Hall about these goings-on to him but, so far, the problems still persist.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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