Seven dogs were found dead in a residential area in Balik Pulau on Monday night.
The discovery was made by Meenachi Kannan, a feeder who has been caring for the strays in the Panara 12 area for a year. She arrived late that evening, only to find the animals she fed daily lying lifeless by the roadside.
“I usually go at 8pm, but I was late because of a meeting. When I reached around 8.30pm, I saw a dog lying on the road. I thought it was an accident. But as I continued feeding, I found six more, all with foam at the mouth and no visible injuries,” she said.
A police report and another to the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) have been lodged. Rachel Tiang, another feeder, rushed four dogs that survived to Cuddles Veterinary Clinic, where they remain on drips, but are in stable condition. The vet suspects rat poison.
Tay CS, co-founder of the Penang Stray Rescue Society (PGSR), said the group, which operates a shelter in Balik Pulau, has long been monitoring and caring for the strays in that area.
She added that volunteers worked through the rain to bury five of the bodies, while one was left for DVS officers to collect for testing.
Picture credit: Penang Stray Rescue Society through WhatsApp
Photos from the scene show the dogs being laid side by side, with yellow paper placed below and on the body before being covered with earth, in a simple ceremony as an act of dignity.
Tay said it took multiple calls before the DVS officers responded. “They collected one of the dogs at 12.20pm,” she said.
The DVS is expected to conduct toxicology tests to confirm the cause of death.
Under Section 29 of the Animal Welfare Act 2015, poisoning animals carries a penalty of up to RM100,000 or three years’ imprisonment, or both. Yet, convictions remain rare.
Just last year, more than 20 dogs were found dead in Tanjung Bungah, reported FMT. Now it has happened again.
Cruelty towards animals reflects something broken in us.
How can people be so cruel and how many more will die before it ends?
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