KUALA LUMPUR – Concerns over an unleashed Great Dane terrorising the peace of an upscale Petaling Jaya neighbourhood came to a head in the early hours of Thursday when the canine allegedly invaded a home and attacked two pet dogs.
According to a police report lodged by prominent lawyer Derek Fernandez, he was forced to hit the Great Dane in an attempt to protect his own dogs, which were much smaller mixed breeds.
“The dog broke into my house at 12.20am. It then attacked my dog and had its neck in its mouth,” Fernandez told Scoop when contacted.
Fernandez said the dog was huge and even damaged parts of his gate while entering the compound.
“Even after hitting the dog with a stick, nothing happened,” he said, adding that the owner eventually arrived and pulled the dog away.
The incident has once again raised questions about responsible pet ownership and enforcement involving large breed dogs in residential neighbourhoods.
It is learnt that the owner, believed to be a retired policeman, had previously been advised by neighbours and members of the Section Five Petaling Jaya Residents’ Association to keep the dog leashed.
There were also alleged prior incidents involving the same dog attacking other pets in the area.
“There are enough CCTV footages of the dog running berserk in the neighbourhood,” Fernandez claimed.
He added that, as an animal lover himself, he felt terrible about having to hit the dog, but insisted it was necessary to protect his own pets.
Social media had initially erupted with criticism against Fernandez after images of the injured Great Dane circulated online, with many accusing him of animal abuse.
However, animal rights group Reform AWA later clarified in a social media posting that the incident appeared to be an act of defence on Fernandez’s part, while also highlighting concerns over negligence by the dog’s owner.
Speaking to Scoop, President of Global Human Rights Federation and Reform AWA, S. Shashi Kumar, said his organisation was initially angered by the viral footage but changed its view after speaking to multiple parties and reviewing evidence.
“Initially, I was very angry. How can a person abuse a dog in such a manner? But after hearing both sides, I can also see the problem on the owner’s side when he lets the dog out,” he said.
Shashi said the organisation believed the incident could have been avoided had the dog been properly supervised.
“The law is very clear. You are not supposed to let your dog out without supervision.
“The problem is the dog was allowed to run freely without proper supervision. These are large breed dogs and they can run very fast,” he added.
He said although the organisation sympathised deeply with the injured dog, responsibility ultimately fell on the owner to ensure the animal’s safety.
“Because of the owner’s attitude, he put the dog in danger. The dog ended up becoming the victim and went through unnecessary suffering.
“This incident was completely uncalled for. The owner should have protected the dog and kept it safe,” he said.
Shashi stressed that Reform AWA was not attempting to defend any party involved, but wanted the public to understand that there were “two sides to the story”.
“Anybody who watched the video would naturally feel emotional, but there are two sides to the story.
“I am not trying to defend anybody. Wrong is wrong, but we also have to be truthful about what happened,” he said.
He also urged dog owners, especially owners of large breeds, to take greater responsibility when exercising their pets in public areas.
“Your dog entered somebody else’s house and you did not even realise it until later. That is negligence on the owner’s part,” he added.
Shashi said Reform AWA would leave any further action to the Residents’ Association and relevant authorities, while calling for a proper investigation into the incident.
Scoop is awaiting response from the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ). - May 8, 2026
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