ANIMAL welfare is a shared responsibility in building a caring, responsible and civilised community, says Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) mayor Datuk Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid.
He said caring for pets went beyond providing them with their basic needs, but also encompassed their overall health, safety and welfare.
“Commitment to animal welfare also reflects the humanitarian values, social responsibility and maturity of a society,” Baderul said in his speech before officiating the Seberang Perai Pets Carnival (Spetcial 4.0) at Auto City Concept Hall in Juru today.
Baderul stressed that the issue of stray animals could not be resolved by MBSP alone, as it required a collective approach and concerted efforts from all parties.
“In fact, it requires a collective approach and integrated cooperation from all parties.
“Pet owners must fulfil their responsibilities accordingly, while the community needs to be empowered with greater awareness.
“Agencies and stakeholders must also continue to strengthen their networks of cooperation,” he said.
Baderul said this was the approach that should be adopted, rather than merely addressing problems after they occurred.
“More importantly, we must prevent these issues from recurring in the first place,” he added.
He also emphasised that simply loving animals was not enough, as love must be accompanied by responsibility.
“If we choose to keep an animal, we must ensure that its welfare, health and safety are taken care of continuously.
“Never choose to keep an animal simply because you are attracted to its cuteness, only to abandon it when caring for it becomes a challenge,” he said.
Baderul said responsible pet ownership and greater public awareness were essential in creating a community where animals were treated with care, compassion and respect.
Story by Riadz Akmal