Facts about pet ownership in Malaysia

Check out some fun facts about pet ownership in Malaysia that you probably did not know of.

• How many pets are there in Malaysia? The number of households in Malaysia with at least one type of pet has been steadily increasing year after year.
• Popular pets owned by Malaysian pet owners include dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits, sugar gliders, some reptiles and birds.
• Pet sitters are in high demand during festive seasons with pet owners rushing to look for cat and dog hotels available during Chinese New Year (CNY), new year’s day or Hari Raya
• Cageless pet boarding, dog boarding, pet nanny, dog kennel, dog sitting, cat sitting, pet training school and other pet care services are among the most popular services Malaysian pet owners are looking for their pets.
• Pet hotel, cat hotel and dog hotel offering pet care services are the common places Malaysian pet owners go to but there is a growing demand for private and cageless pet care services as users are now asking more personal questions like “will my dog be in a cage” or “is the pet sitter near me”.
• Top areas where pet care services are required include Kuala Lumpur, Cheras, Sunway, Mont Kiara, Ara Damansara, Setia Alam, Petaling Jaya, Bukit Tinggi, Kepong, Subang Jaya, Taman Melawati, Gombak, Puchong, Selangor, Georgetown, Ipoh, Penang, Johor Bahru.

You need your neighbours consent to have dogs in landed homes, but not in condominiums!

A funny quirk in certain municipalities in Malaysia, is that it is legal to have dogs in condominiums without any consen from your neighbours, but not when you stay in a bungalow, semi-detached, or linked home. Certain district councils in Malaysia, Batu Gajah District Council (MDBG) in Perak being the most recent one as of 2017, has made it a mandatory rule for dog owners applying for a dog license to seek their neighbours’ consent first.

“This is to ensure better management of the pets and to ensure there are fewer complaints from the people,” quoted the Council president.

The rule is not just for people applying for a new dog licence, even existing dog owners need to get their neighbours’ permission. Additionally, those staying in bungalows, semi-detached and cluster homes need permission from neighbours on both sides and at the back.

There’s also a limit on the number of dogs you can keep. For example, if you live in a bungalow, semi-detached or terrace corner lot, you can keep a maximum of two dogs, while residents in terrace end lots and terrace intermediate lots can only keep one.

The rule also states the type of dogs that are not allowed in any circumstances which include Akita, American Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, Neapolitan Mastiff, Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

While Rottweilers are allowed, new applicants now need to produce health reports from the Veterinary Services Department.

Those who have been keeping Rottweilers can renew the licence until the pet dies.

Source: The Star

Your dog may be impounded and put to sleep without a license in Malaysia!

In many municipalities in Malaysia, your dog cannot roam unsupervised, unleashed and without a muzzle. And if a dog that’s three years or older is found without a licence, the Council can impound and put it down. 

Many town councils in Malaysia contract third party private dog catchers with the responsibility of enforcing this rule. An example would be MPKJ, where a reward is provided to these third party dog catchers to catch and kill stray dogs and cats. They will be paid a sum for every stray dog or cat they catch, and the local council will entrust them with the responsibility to kill and dispose of the animal.

So if you have a dog or plan to have one in your home in Malaysia, do check with your local town councils for the rules and regulations you have to abide to as it varies between town councils, to avoid unnecessary heartache and trouble in the future.

Source: The Star

6 important things you should know before keeping pets in an apartment or condominium in Malaysia.

What does the law say?

Generally there is a public acceptance of pets. Be it a dog, cat or birds in a cage, the law is largely lenient. However, some of the laws relating to animal abuse and cruelty and nuisance to the general public are not tolerated. It is important to keep in mind the laws of your locality, and abide by the rules accordingly.

Dogs and cats are most common pets, and as long as they are in a travelling box they are welcome on public transport. People are encouraged to be responsible in rearing pets. There are no hard and fast rules for keeping caged birds and aquariums in apartments. Untrained dogs and cats may prove to be a nuisance in common areas, so apartments may have some stringent rules regarding their upkeep.

Ways to get around building restriction

There are some government restrictions applicable in apartment complexes, especially if you are renting and have a strict landlord. It is important to check with the landlord before getting the animals. In many places cats and dogs are not encouraged to enter public restaurants due to health and safety standards imposed by the government. It is also good to be better informed about the pets owned, so that it would be easy to get around building restrictions, say if the pet is well trained.

Other restrictions may apply on the constant barking of dogs and littering in common areas. It should be ensured that the dogs are potty trained and the cat litter should be kept in the bathroom and not in any common area.

Ensure that no inconvenience is caused

People are different everywhere. One person’s pet need not necessarily be everyone’s pet. So it is important that the pets are not a hindrance in the apartment complex. While walking dogs it is important to ensure that dog poop is picked up, so that the common area doesn’t get soiled and also ensure that it does not happen often.

Some countries have strict laws against errant pet owners. It is important to be aware of the rules and regulations regarding pets in the country where the pet is being relocated, if that is the situation. Once these rules are familiar, there are even pet relocation teams who will help with the moving of pets smoothly into that country. This will ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the pets and other travellers.

What to keep in mind when you take your pet outside

Keep dogs on leash, especially in common areas. Take care that they do not poop in common areas, failing which, clean the area immediately. Take the pet out to the dog park and give them sufficient exercise. Depending on the area and its rules, the pets can be leashed or unleashed in parks. Let the dogs socialise with other dogs in the park.

It is also important that the pets are registered and wear tags when out in a public space. If the pets like plants, grow potted plants. Some cats love to play with plants and eat them, so it is important to grow non-toxic plants. If the pet cannot be taken for a walk, it is good to hire a dog walker to give exercise to the pets. It is an offence to allow a dog to attack or cause injury to the public or to other pets, so it is important to recognise the dog’s behaviour and leash them in areas that are designated as pedestrian zones.

What you need to know in case of threats?

Not all the dwellers in your apartment building are going to be animal lovers. And even if they are, you may still receive complaints against your pet now and then. But not all complaints are threats. For minor complaints, try and figure out how the issue can be resolved. Maybe your dog barks a lot, or your cat has the habit of roaming outside and pooping in front of other apartments. For such cases, do what it takes to train your pets or keep them happy, so that they don’t bother others.

But if your dog attacks someone, the issue will probably become very serious and the injured person may threaten you. In such a situation or a similar one, try finding out what exactly happened if you were not present. Was your pet provoked or was there any other reason behind the behaviour? Make sure that your dog or cat has got all the necessary shots, so that they are not carriers of rabies or other germs. Also, if there were any other witnesses to the incident, talk to them to obtain more information. Please bear in mind that some people may threaten because actually something happened. But some others might do it simply because they have a low threshold of tolerance for pets!

Who to contact in case of threats and complaints

Depending on the nature and level of seriousness of the threat or complaint, you may need to contact your apartment building authority for mediation if possible. For major threats without any sufficient cause, feel free to take the help of your local animal protection authorities. In an apartment building, if a neighbour is angry about your pet, it’s first better to try and resolve it amicably. But if someone threatens to hurt your pet, do sit up and take control!