CAP urges stronger action on animal welfare after 7,600 abuse cases
THE Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) has called for animal welfare and protection to be given greater priority after 7,613 cases of abuse and neglect were reported nationwide between 2021 and 2024.
Citing statistics from the Department of Veterinary Services, CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said the figures reflect “an alarming level of inhumanity” in Malaysian society. Of the cases, dogs made up the highest number with 5,226 reports, followed by cats with 1,900 cases.
Other cases involved livestock and exotic pets including cows, horses, birds, rabbits and reptiles.
Mohideen urged authorities to step up enforcement and stressed the need for a change in public attitudes. He pointed to problems in industrial farming, where animals are often confined, denied natural behaviour, and left vulnerable to disasters such as fires or floods.
He also called for stricter monitoring of pet shops, citing the widespread practice of separating puppies and kittens too early from their mothers and keeping animals in unsuitable conditions.
“The exploitation of animals in entertainment must also end. Tigers, elephants and monkeys are not entertainers but living beings often forced into unnatural acts under threat of punishment,” he said. — FocusM Oct 4, 2025
