By Peter Sibon
KUCHING, Apr 22: Pet shops are only allowed to operate twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 7 am-7 pm during the current movement control order (MCO) period, said Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng.
“Pet shop owners under MBKS jurisdiction must abide by the MCO. For me, two days a week is sufficient for pet owners to buy enough supplies for their beloved pets,” Wee told DayakDaily today.
However, he stated that pet shop owners also have the right not to operate during those two days if they could not persuade their workers to operate their premises.
“During the MCO period, some workers in pet shops might fear to go to work. And pet shop owners too might not want to risk their own health. So, it all depends on the pet shop owners themselves whether to open up their business or not during the two days,” said Wee.
Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) president Datin Dona Drury-Wee, when contacted said that she agreed with Wee that it the twice-weekly operation times for pet shops were sufficient enough for pet owners to get their supplies.
Additionally, she also reminded pet owners to be responsible when looking after their pets, especially dogs during the MCO.
“Don’t forget that we are still facing rabies problem in Sarawak which we will have to live with for the next seven to 10 more years,” she reckoned.
Drury-Wee reminded that as responsible pet owners, they must neuter their pets to prevent them from multiplying.
“We keep on having problems with stray animals especially dogs because their owners have not been responsible enough to look after them in the first place,” she said. —DayakDaily
