The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has urged residents of high-rise units in Penang not to leave their pets unattended in their premises.

Penang SPCA administrator Lily Leng said pets should also not be kept in balconies as the animals are not fully protected from the rain or sunshine.

She said pet owners should keep their pets in a secured place where there is no risk to the animals.

“If the owners are not around, they should ensure that the pets do not become a nuisance to their neighbours,” she said.

Leng was commenting on a complaint it received on a mongrel which was howling in pain for about an hour in a condominium in Bandar Baru Air Itam yesterday. A resident had called up the SPCA after he spotted that one of the dog’s paw was trapped in the iron grille of the balcony of the ground floor unit.

But before the SPCA’s personnel could reach there, the owner returned to the unit and freed the canine.

The woman was seen keeping another dog in her unit.

The SPCA’s team which arrived about 20 minutes later advised the woman to relocate the animals.

It is learnt that she agreed to send the dogs to her mother’s house elsewhere within two days.

Penang municipal councillor Ong Ah Teong said the council has no authority to act against residents of high-rise units who keep pets in their premises.

“Only the property management companies can take action under the Strata Title Act.

“Residents can lodge a complaint to their property management companies if the pets are causing a nuisance,” he said, adding that they only take action on pets kept in council-owned buildings.

Meanwhile, Bandar Baru Air Itam Management Sdn Bhd (BBAIM) building supervisor James Ng said pets were not allowed to be kept in high-rise units.

“When we receive a complaint, we would notify the owners in writing to relocate their pets,” he said.

He said there were pet owners who do not scoop dogs’ droopings after walking them in their vicinity.

A resident of Tanjung Court Condominium, who declined to be named, said he was irked that there were many dogs roaming in the condominium’s compound.

“Some people are keeping dogs, including exotic breeds in their units even though they know that this is not allowed.

“These people are educated but they are not bothered about the inconvenience it causes to others.

“When their dog defecates or urinates in the lifts, they do not clean up the mess and the foul odour lingers for hours. Somebody else have to clean up the mess,” he said.

SOURCE: The Star