What to expect in the Year of the Ox

 

THE Chinese Zodiac consists of 12 animals that represent certain years. The year of your birth is represented by one of these animals, and according to the Chinese Zodiac, you will have particular personality traits that resemble your assigned animal.

Wondering how your zodiac sign fares during the Year of the Ox? Here’s how you can be well-prepared in 2021 with some guidance from feng shui master Lee Cheng Hoe.

RAT (1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020)

It will be a smoother year for the Rat who is in harmony with the Ox. Your interpersonal relations are greatly enhanced and influential people are happy to help you.

Scholars and academics will do well as Rats will find it easier to acquire new knowledge. Career folk seeking promotions and business owners who are scouting for new avenues must strive to win with their wisdom and wit.

Pay attention to your health and well-being, whether physical or emotional, as you will be plagued by illness stars which may hinder your progress and incur unnecessary expenditure.

OX (1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021)

Changes abound for the Ox who is in direct conflict with the presiding god, so be mentally prepared to face various obstructions and refrain from impulsive actions.

Artistic pursuits and creative ventures are favoured. Career-wise, your talents and excellent work performance get much-deserved recognition.

Remain alert while driving and be extra careful if your work requires dealing with metal objects or operating machinery. You may donate blood to resolve the bloodshed brought about by unlucky stars. Boost auspicious energies with happy events, such as wedding banquets and birthday parties. Avoid funerals and hospitals and other places with negative energies.

TIGER (1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010)

The Tiger benefits greatly from auspicious stars bringing the powerful luck of good relationships and helpful male benefactors such as male family members, relatives, friends, business partners, colleagues, customers and so on.

Those involved in sales, marketing and business development can look forward to success at work and merchants may consider expanding their businesses to overseas markets.

The lucky stars will also benefit the love life of the female Tiger, who is seeking her other half. Singles may look forward to finding a suitable companion. There are indications of happy events such as weddings and the addition of family members.

RABBIT (1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011)

This year, Rabbits have to rely on themselves and complete their tasks independently as they basically have no support from auspicious stars. There is a focus on family health so you should pay particular attention to the wellbeing of elderly family members and take speedy action if there is any indication of health problems which may require immediate medical attention.

If Rabbits wish to enhance their fortune, they may buy a house or redecorate their home or even replace their furniture. Be extra careful when going outdoors. And if you have to drive, do not speed.

DRAGON (1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012)

The Dragon’s good fortune manifests itself in the form of influential female benefactors (ie female family members, relatives, friends, business partners, colleagues, customers, etc). There is also added benefit to the love life of male Dragons who are looking for their significant other. Singles will find it helpful in the development of their relationship with their partner.

Inauspicious quarrelsome stars may amplify your argumentative tendencies, so watch your tongue. Refrain from getting overly involved in other people’s affairs.

Be conservative in wealth management and exercise caution with investments. Avoid travelling to places that are known to be dangerous.

SNAKE (1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013)

A year for the Snake to level up in their career, making it especially conducive to move up the corporate ladder. Your auspicious stars empower you to attain your goals and offer opportunities for career advancement. Your efforts receive due recognition from your bosses.

Civil servants and management personnel can look forward to promotions while scholars and academics will achieve outstanding examination results.

To counter badmouthing and backstabbing by those who are envious of your success, shine a bright light or put a red carpet in the southwest to reduce the negative impact of the inauspicious stars on your reputation.

HORSE (1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014)

It is a joyful time for the Horse, who will enjoy a very colourful social life with plenty of opportunities for merrymaking. This is especially advantageous to Horses who are working in sales and marketing.

Powerful benefactors will lend their support whenever you require help. You will be extraordinarily attractive to the opposite sex.

Singles looking for a life partner can take the opportunity to get hooked up, while those who are married have to guard against getting entangled in undesirable affairs.

Avoid high-risk investments. Pay attention to the health of male elders in your family.

GOAT (1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015)

The Goat will be presented with opportunities for relocation or home ownership. You will also be blessed with benefactors who will help to solve problems on your behalf. It will not be easy for you to accumulate wealth as financial loss is indicated.

Avoid careless or high-risk investments. Just keep your money in a safe place instead. You need to cultivate patience as your luck is not too promising so you will encounter more obstacles which will further complicate matters for you. To help dispel the disturbance caused by inauspicious stars, it is advisable to pray for good fortune.

MONKEY (1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016)

Superb fortune stars shine on the Monkey, bringing a steady rise in career development. This is indicative of a status upgrade to a prominent position, which is most rewarding to office workers and administrative personnel.

There will be ample opportunities for you to demonstrate your myriad talents and leadership abilities.

Also indicated are happy events such as getting married and having babies. Even new relationships develop more quickly.

Refrain from being boastful or showing off too much as it can easily lead to a sudden reversal of fortunes that will leave you depressed and stuck in a rut.

ROOSTER (1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017)

High time for Roosters to shine in leadership roles, particularly those in administrative or management positions. This is a prosperous year with promotions and increments in store, plus promising opportunities for further wealth gain.

Avoid extreme sports such as mountain climbing, skydiving, water skiing and other high-risk physical activities.

You may also be prone to injury due to animal bites or bloodshed caused by metal objects. Be careful on the road. You may donate blood to resolve the bloodshed brought about by unlucky stars.

There will be more ups and downs in your career and love life, so it is important to act cautiously.

DOG (1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018)

The Dog is surrounded by marvellous fortune stars so everything can be settled easily.

Both happiness and wealth are indicated, as well as great potential in your career. You do not have to work too hard as the help you require will come naturally.

Opportunities present themselves, so if you can grasp the good fortune in time and make the effort, you will achieve the recognition you deserve.

As long as you do not commit any offences, your lucky stars will help to transform all bad luck into good fortune. Try to maintain a healthy diet and regular exercise regime.

PIG (1935, 1947, 1959, 1971 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019)

It is a hectic time for the Pig who has to go out and move about frequently for good fortune to manifest.

You will be travelling further distances more often and staying away from home for longer durations.

This frequent change of environment often signifies changing jobs or relocating, studying abroad or working overseas.

Because you are always on the move, do be careful when driving and allow yourself to rest when tired.

To strengthen personal fortune, try to attend festive activities of family and friends that are filled with positive energies. Avoid funerals and hospital visits.

Auspicious acts

How to feng shui your way to success this year.

TO enhance your good fortune this year, there are some things you can do in your home or office, according to feng shui beliefs. Here are some tips from feng shui master Lee Cheng Hoe on how to make the most of the Year of the Ox.

Magnify the lucky stars

There are various auspicious locations in 2021 according to the Annual Flying Star Feng Shui Chart. You are in luck if your bedroom, main door, office or shop is located in any of them. But there are also ways to increase your good fortune.

The West is where the Number 8 White (Earth) Annual Star is located. As we are presently in Period 8, the Number 8 Star is the best of all as it is the current wealth location.

Activate it using a fan or clock to stimulate the flow of auspicious energies. Further enhance the qi with a treasure bowl full of crystals. Install a ‘moving water’ feature to energise it for added prosperity.

In the South is the Number 1 White (Water) Annual Star which is good for wealth, love and career. Activate it using a water feature. Those who wish to find a partner, enhance their sales volume or increase their wealth should utilise this sector.

The Number 6 White (Metal) Annual Star in the Centre is conducive towards career advancement and brings windfalls and other indirect wealth opportunities. Energise it using a crystal ball with Six Emperor Coins. Spend more time here if you wish to increase your chances of striking the lottery.

The Number 9 Purple (Fire) Annual Star at the Northeast brings good news or happy events such as getting married or having a baby. It is also the secondary wealth sector. Enhance your good fortune using nine pots of plants or nine bamboo plants secured with a red ribbon. Also, shine a bright light and place a red carpet there too.

Those who wish to have a baby should spend more time here and keep the area well activated. Note that the Northeast is the location for the Grand Duke (Tai Sui) as well this year, hence no renovations, knocking or breaking of walls should be done in this area.

The Number 4 Green (Wood) Annual Star in the East makes it the best place for scholastic achievement and is particularly good for brainstorming and decision-making. Utilise this sector for a better relationship among couples or to enhance potential romantic encounters. Activate it with Wen Fang Si Bao (Four Treasures of the Study) or a Wen Chang pagoda or put four bamboo plants in a vase filled with water.

Take note that the Three Killings (feng shui afflictions) is also in the East this year, but that can be remedied with three small Qi Lin (Chinese unicorn or dragon horse) to reduce the negative impact.

Suppress negative energies

Fret not if you are currently stuck in an unfavourable location. To reduce the impact of the inauspicious stars, Master Lee recommends some steps that you can take.

The Number 5 Yellow (Earth) Annual Star in the Southeast makes it the worst location and the most dangerous sector. No renovations, hammering or breaking of walls in this area should be done.

Beware of accidents and obstacles. Remedy with Fortune Water (also known as An Ren Shui or salt water cure), but be careful not to have ‘moving water’ features there. Avoid having any red-coloured objects in this area.

The Number 7 (Metal) Annual Star in the Northwest makes it a hotspot for arguments, theft, robberies and health issues. Suppress the negative energies using a glass of water with coarse salt.

The Number 2 Black (Earth) Annual Star at the North sector triggers illness and loss of wealth besides making it the place where unwanted spirits like to gather. Remedy using Fortune Water or Five Emperor Coins or a Bronze Dragon Turtle.

The Number 3 Jade (Wood) Annual Star at the Southwest sparks constant arguments, and in extreme cases, may lead to lawsuits. Remedy with a red-coloured object such as a red carpet, red light or red sofa. The Southwest is also in direct conflict with the Grand Duke, hence avoid renovations, or the hammering or breaking of walls there.

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No dog until neighbours agree

 

Dogs  Matrix - Breed of Dog

IPOH: The Batu Gajah District Council (MDBG) has become the first in Perak to require dog owners to seek consent from their neighbours if they want a dog licence.

It is now running a trial on this, covering residents who want to get a pet dog for the first time.

“This is to ensure better management of the pets and to ensure there are fewer complaints from the people,” said council president Nurdiana Puaadi, adding that the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council had a similar requirement which had been proven to be successful.

Nurdiana cited cases of a household keeping three dogs but only one was licensed, adding that the MDBG had received numerous complaints about dogs that barked non-stop.

“Once the neighbours give their approval, they cannot complain to us,” said Nurdiana, adding existing dog owners should also get their neighbours’ approval.

“This will also help keep stray dog problems in check,” she said.

The application form states that residents staying at terrace lots need the consent from neighbours from both sides.

Those staying in bungalows, semi-detached and cluster homes need the agreement from neighbours on both sides and at the back. Owners also need to put up a sign to show that they have a dog.

The types of dogs not allowed to be kept include Akita, American Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, Neapolitan Mastiff, Pit Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Rottweilers are allowed but owners need to produce health reports from the Veterinary Services Department for new applications. Those who have been keeping Rottweilers can renew the licence until the pet dies.

It also states that those living in bungalows, semi-detached or terrace corner lots can keep a maximum of two dogs, while residents in terrace end lots and terrace intermediate lots can only keep one.

Other stipulations include urging owners to keep their dogs clean and healthy and to ensure pets do not disturb neighbours with incessant barking.

Owners must also ensure their dogs do not roam unsupervised and must be muzzled and leashed when they are out. Dogs three years or older found without a licence can be impounded and put down.

Owners can also be fined a maximum of RM2,000 or jailed not more than a year or both if found guilty under any provisions of the Dog Licensing and Dog Breeding House By-laws.

By Ivan Loh The Star

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Burglar-proof your home

Fending off thieves need not be expensive

PROTECTING a home from break-ins is high up on everyone’s priority list.

But fending off burglars and thieves doesn’t always require one to buy expensive security systems, or plonking down cash to turn houses into impenetrable forts.

The following are some simple, inexpensive ways to burglar or theft-proof your house against unwanted intruders.

Reinforce the doors and locks

According to the The Telegraph’s “How to burglar-proof your home - tips from an ex-thief,” a shabby-looking door is an open invitation for thieves.

“If your front door looks tatty, or if it only has one cylinder lock instead of a cylinder lock plus deadlock, it will catch a thief’s eye.

Marilyn Lewis of MSN Real Estate points out that thieves generally prefer to use the front door.

“Creeping out a window is hard, and it’s far more difficult when carting out a load of loot. Thieves typically test a house by first ringing the bell to ensure no one’s home, then trying the door handle and perhaps putting a shoulder to the door to see how solid and how firmly attached it is.

“To enter, the usual tool is a pry bar or a strong kick of the boot. Sadly, many doors fly open easily.”

Reinforcing your front entrance with a steel gate is a popular and common option to protect your front door.

Secure the perimeter

According to the Malaysian Department of Statistics, the bulk of burglaries tend to take place in the night rather than in the day. According to its Crime Index for the year 2009, a total of 27,060 burglaries took place in the night compared with 11,396 burglaries in the day.

This clearly justifies the need to reinforce the security around your home.

“Replacing porch lights and other outdoor lights with motion-sensor lights is cheap and easy,” writes Lewis.

With the bulk of burglaries taking place in the night, it makes sense to “light up the house,” says ABCNews.

“Scare off those burglars with motion-sensor lights. Look for ones with adjustable sensitivity to avoid getting a false alarm from things like tree branches rustling. And keep the outside of your home illuminated an all sides using energy-efficient compact fluorescent,” it says.

Buying a good alarm system is also a viable option – provided it doesn’t cost you a bomb. Lewis says many people spend thousands of dollars buying, leasing and installing electronic alarms, and then sign contracts requiring them to shell out thousands more to a company that monitors the alarm.

“A 30-second alarm blast should scare away intruders. Also, newer alarms can be programmed to do what monitoring companies do first anyway: phone you (or text you) when the alarm has been tripped.”

Make the house seem “lived in”

Even if you’re not home (be it out at work or away on vacation), don’t give the impression that there’s no one at home.

“Make sure you don’t give obvious clues that you’re not home. Turn down the telephone ringer, so burglars won’t hear you aren’t there. Make the house seem like someone is home with lamps or a radio on a timer,” says ABCNews. “(Also) don’t leave mail piled up in the mailbox if you’re away. Again, you’re telling the thieves what’s going on, that you’re not home,” it says, adding that if you do go away on vacation, “don’t blab on Facebook when you’re leaving town.”

If you have newspapers delivered to your home, inform the vendor that you’ll be away, or get your neighbour to remove them from your doorstep.

Says Lewis: “When you’re gone, don’t let stuff like newspapers, real-estate cards and pizza fliers accumulate in front of your door.

“Leave a vehicle in your carport or in front of the house if possible. Ask a neighbour or friend to help you out by parking there. Get friends to pick up newspapers, cut the grass, water plants, feed pets and open and close curtains, varying their routine to add a note of unpredictability if possible.”

 Get a dog

Owning a dog is an inexpensive and effective way to keep robbers at bay.

While owning a dog may not make your property impregnable it can, however, make the home less approachable

ABCNews, in its article “5 Ways to Avoid a Break-In: Confessions of an Ex-Burglar,” speaks to a former convict that actually confirms this fact: “No burglar wants to deal with a dog and so won’t take the chance and probably will avoid the neighbors’ houses, too.”

Lewis, meanwhile, notes that while owning a dog may not make your property impregnable, it can, however, make the home less approachable.

“You don’t want a pooch? That’s okay. Post a “beware of dog” sign anyway.”Lewis cites Chris McGoey, a security expert and consultant who doesn’t have a dog, but owns a sign and makes a point of asking service people to wait before entering his property, so that he can “put the dog in the house.”

“The sign is cheap. It makes people think twice,” says McGoey.

By Eugene Mahalingam The Star/Asia News Network

How low can cruel people go?

Somali who ‘helped’ to care for pet throws it into manhole

PETALING JAYA: The deliberate killing of a pet dog by two men who were caught on video throwing it into a manhole has raised the hackles of animal lovers.

Worse, the persons who killed the dog had earlier volunteered to care for the pet, claims the owner, a Jordanian student.

“I went back to Jordan on June 24. My housemate's friend, a Somali student, offered to care for my dog Kanilla for a month,” said the 19-year-old, adding that the female dog was a cross between a Pitt Bull and a Dalmatian.

On July 19, the owner was shocked when he received a message from the Somali student claiming that Kanilla had run away.

Further distress awaited the owner when he came back to Malaysia on July 26.

“My housemate showed me a video of the Somali student and another person throwing Kanilla into a manhole in Cyberjaya,'' he said.

He said he was broken-hearted over the cruelty inflicted upon Kanilla.

Cruelty comes in many forms but this is particularly very shocking. I urge the authorities to take the necessary action and to make a stand that animal abuse would not be tolerated in Malaysia. — CHRISTINE CHIN

The owner claimed that the perpetrators had used his housemate's laptop to transfer some files, including the offending video, and had forgotten to erase them after that.

He has lodged a police report at the Cyberjaya police station on July 31 with help from the Selangor Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

“Cruelty comes in many forms but this is particularly very shocking,'' said SPCA chairman Christine Chin.

“I urge the authorities to take the necessary action and to make a stand that animal abuse would not be tolerated in Malaysia.”

Stills of the video were also forwarded to canine welfare project Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) which posted the pictures on its Facebook page.

The posting garnered countless comments from enraged people from Malaysia as well as overseas,

Among those who commented was renowned bassist Andy Peterson who said: “Get the one who took the picture too.”

A Malaysian living in Canada, Juliana Vincent-Phillips, said the perpetrators should be deported, adding that “no one will miss these scums”.

MDDB rescue coordinator Irene Low said more police reports were being lodged to lend support to the SPCA's initial report.

She urged the public to obtain the sample report from the MDDB Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MalaysianDogsDeserveBetter

The Star/Asia News Network\


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Killer dog's owner fined and charged again

Elaine Soon Sien Ling outside the court, while her dog Beacon is at the Selangor Veterinary Services Department pound. Pic by Syarafiq Abd Samad

PETALING JAYA: THE owner of the dog which killed an elderly jogger last month escaped custodial sentence after the court heard that the victim's family had forgiven her for being negligent in the incident.

CANINE ATTACK : OWNER OF KILLER DOG FINED RM2,000 FOR NEGLIGENCE Source: ntv7.com.my

Elaine Soon Sien Ling, 28, an accountant, heaved a sigh of relief as she could have been sentenced to a maximum of six months' jail under Section 289 of the Penal Code for being negligent with her pet.

Magistrate Mohd Nazri Omran, however, imposed the maximum fine of RM2,000.

In sentencing her, Nazri said he took into account that the victim's family had forgiven her and had retracted the police report on the incident.

Soon pleaded guilty when the charge was read to her.

According to the facts of the case, the victim, Yip Sun Wah, 74 was jogging in SS19 Subang Jaya on May 8 when the dog, a cross between a miniature bull terrier and an American Staffordshire terrier, escaped from Soon's house and pounced on Yip.

The dog, which answers to the name, "Beacon", only let go of the the victim when neighbours hit it with an umbrella and a cane.

A neighbour, who identified himself as a doctor at the scene of the incident, said Yip died at the scene.

In mitigating for a light sentence, Soon, who was unrepresented, told the court that she had gotten the dog as security measure for her retired mother who was alone at home. She said that their home had been burgled before and that when she got her dog, she had taken it to the veterinarian and it was certified as healthy.

Soon added that on the morning of the incident, she had let her dog loose in the compound but locked the gate and had shut the garbage disposal gate.

She also tendered a letter from the victim's family, who stated they had forgiven her over the incident and that they had also retracted the police report.

Deputy public prosecutor, Siti Fatimah Yahya pressed for a sentence that would serve as a lesson to the public.

Soon's father and fiancee were present in court. The accused paid the fine.

Meanwhile, the fate of Beacon, lies in the decision of the court.

State Veterinary Services Department deputy director Dr Fadzilah A'ini Abd Kadir said the dog was still in their care.

"We have not received any instructions regarding the dog," she said, adding that Beacon was healthy and free of rabies.

Dr Fadzilah said said normally, in such cases, there are three options -- put the dog to sleep, send it to the police for training, or return it to the owner.

New Straits Times Friday, Jun 29, 2012

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How to avoid dogs attack you?

Learn to be safe if a dog attacks, says trainer - If a dog is coming at you, not run or turn to fact it - M.Selvamanickaraja

KUALA LUMPUR: The public should learn how to avoid being attacked by dogs following the case of a jogger who died after being mauled by a dog.

Dog trainer M. Selvamanickaraja said the risk of injury could be reduced significantly if you knew what to do when faced with an aggressive dog.

He added that local councils should also conduct awareness programmes for dog owners so they would know how to be responsible for their pets.

“After issuing licences to owners, local councils should brief them on basic things that they should do, such as keeping a proper kennel and securing their house compound so that dogs will not be able to escape,” he said at his house here.

On May 8, a miniature bull terrier cross bit Yip Sun Wah, 74, on the neck and almost tore off his left ear as he was jogging about 1km from his house in Subang Jaya. Yip died on the spot.

Selvamanickaraja, who has been training dogs for 10 years, said banning dog breeds was not the answer as mongrels could also turn aggressive.

He said that not allowing breeds such as the German Shepherd will also deprive people from owning gifted and loyal family dogs.

On what people can do when faced with a vicious dog, Selva­manickaraja said: “When a dog wants to attack you, it thinks of you as prey. You must change the dog’s perception of you as prey.

“If a dog is coming at you, do not run or turn to face it. Remain still and turn to your side, with your hands behind your back.

“Clench your fists as you do not want to leave anything exposed for the dog to bite. By doing this, you are not giving the dog space to attack,” he said.

The dog will become confused and might change its mind about attacking.

“But in its state of confusion, it might try to bite but you must stand firm. At most, it will bite once and then leave,” Selvamanickaraja said.

He said people should only attempt to run away or confront the dog if they were absolutely sure they can escape or defend themselves.

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Beauty and the beast in sports

Sports is a beautiful thing and sporting success is even more wonderful. But what do we do about the spoilsports that always dog the big events?



IT was a crazy night, wasn’t it? Yes, like everybody else, I am talking about last Sunday when the two giants of Manchester and the London upstarts called Queens Park Rangers took us all on a roller-coaster ride of emotions.

One minute, City were taking the title with QPR going down; the next, it was United taking the title and QPR staying up – and just when it seemed that all had been settled bar for the drunken celebrations on the red side of the town, everything turned on its head.

And City are the champions and QPR are staying up. Thank God for that — the QPR bit, I mean. I don’t care too much about City being champions although it’s nice to see the Devils off their high-horses for once.

The way the emotions ran that night, I almost wished QPR had just stayed down the season before. It’s just too much excitement for people like me.

And I’m sure I wasn’t the only one. But in all that excitement, we all forgot that other big game.

What other big game, you ask?

Well, Sunday was also the day when the national hockey team became Asian champions — for the first time ever, and at any age-level.

It was an achievement we should have been shouting about, a crowning glory for a side that has always been overshadowed by the South Asian giants Pakistan and India and, even the South Koreans. Those pesky Koreans beat us at everything, and it was great to see our boys whip them 6-3 in Malacca.

Now, we have to salute the young juniors who overcame the odds, beat the Indians in the semi-finals and the Pakistanis in the final to bury those old ghosts. And one of the players was still in mourning. His father had died just days earlier.

We also have to salute the coaches, the once-mercurial Minarwan Nawawi (who has never won the title even while playing in a star-studded team) and the ever-steady K. Dharmaraj.

Dharmaraj almost lost his job as coach but survived and went on to this.

Absolutely glorious for him and Minarwan. And it brought back memories of that fantastic fourth place finish in the World Cup in 1975. And we can now dream of greater glory at senior level.

But there always has to be an ugly side.

In Manchester, there was that dumb Joey Barton doing what he did — and after being red-carded!

And on the hockey pitch after Malaysia had become champions, the crowd went crazy. They surged on to the pitch. And guess what? They were not joining the boys in celebrations.

They were stealing the players’ hockey sticks!

Five players lost their sticks and Dharmaraj had to hastily hide his wallet for fear that it may be snatched from him.

What do we do about these crazy goons? It’s a problem that’s been dogging sports for years.

I remember in a veterans’ football tournament in Penang, a spectator came over to ask a winning player if he could take a look at his medal. When the guy handed it over, this young chap coolly walked away with the medal!

When all the other players caught him and forced him to return his medal, he brought a bunch of gangsters to beat up the players.

And they say Barton is a lout.

Talking of controversy dogging sports, that’s exactly what is happening with the next extravaganza we are waiting for. Euro 2012 has gotten ugly.

Ukraine and Poland are jointly hosting Europe’s greatest show. And to make sure it puts a fine face to the visiting world, Ukraine has decided to clear its streets of stray dogs.

So what do the authorities do? They round up the dogs, hit them with poison and then burn them in mobile incinerators.

And there have been claims that the dogs are still alive as they are set alight. It seems the dogs are being hanged as well.

There has been a huge outcry in the Internet. An online petition has been signed by thousands, and many are suggesting that the Euros be taken someplace else — some place where there is not that much cruelty to animals.

And Pamela Anderson is hot — under the collar, that is. The sex bombshell with the now less-than-extra-large chest has written to UEFA president Michel Platini to react to the mass slaughter.

She’s not the first sex symbol to be pained by the killing of dogs.

During the 1988 Olympics and the 2002 World Cup Finals in South Korea, the government had to tell its citizens not to eat dog meat. And butchers were also told not to hang dog carcasses in the windows.
It was Brigitte Bardot who complained then.

> Malaysia has its own dog woes, what with a jogger being killed in an attack and with authorities brazenly killing the animals in many places.

Why Not? By D. RAJ

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I WANT THIS DOG J

Click on the word DOG

Dog attacks humans, it’s the owner, not the breed!

Ferocious debates notwithstanding, there are studies to show that almost every breed has been involved in fatal dog bites, and dogs that bite humans were 2.8 times as likely to be chained as unchained.

IN a kopitiam in Subang Jaya, Selangor, two 30-something women were snarling at each other over dogs.

A woman, whose bark was probably (hopefully) worse than her bite, insisted that pit bulls should be banned in Malaysia while her canine-loving friend argued otherwise.

Both were in a ferocious discussion about a death in their neighbourhood.

And I thought: “Who let the dogs out?” 

On Tuesday morning, a 74-year-old man was mauled by a miniature bull terrier cross while jogging about 1km from his house in Subang Jaya.

The dog attacked Yip Sun Wah for almost four minutes, biting his neck and almost tearing of his left ear.

The Star reported that the owner, a 25-year-old accountant, bought the animal three months ago after her house was robbed.

Eavesdropping, I pretended to be fascinated with the condensation on my glass of iced white Ipoh coffee.

The woman whose bark was hopefully worse than her bite went on and on about how “fierce” dogs (i.e. Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, American Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa and American Pit bull) were “killers on the loose”.

She supported the knee-jerk decision (in my opinion) by MPSJ (Subang Jaya Municipal Council) to immediately ban these dogs – classified as under the “big” category as predisposed to aggressive or dangerous behaviour.

Her friend, whose expression was that of a terrified Chihuahua, snarled back, calling the woman Mussolini for supporting a fascist move.

The dog-hating woman and MPSJ, I thought, were barking up the wrong tree.

I wanted to interject in the “dogfight”. But I didn’t as I was afriad the two rabid women would maul me.

Instead, I fired up my iPad to find an article which I read in the New Yorker, a weekly magazine, about a few years back that a violent dog was a reflection of its owner and not its breed.

It was written by the clever Malcolm Gladwell who has authored bestselling non-fiction books such as The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference and Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking.

A quick search on www.new yorker.com produced Gladwell’s article titled Troublemakers: What Pit Bulls Can Teach Us About Profiling, published on Feb 6, 2006.

Gladwell argued that the notion of a pit-bull menace rested on unstable generalisation.

Quoting Randall Lockwood, one of the United States’ leading dog bite experts, he wrote that Lockwood had seen virtually every breed involved in fatal dog bites.

“... including Pomeranians and everything else, except a beagle or a basset hound,” Lockwood said. “And there’s always one or two deaths attributable to malamutes or huskies, although you never hear people clamouring for a ban on those breeds.”

Gladwell also quoted a study that found dogs that bite humans were 2.8 times as likely to be chained as unchained.

“About 20% of the dogs involved in fatalities were chained at the time, and had a history of long-term chaining,” said Lockwood.

“Now, are they chained because they are aggressive or aggressive because they are chained? It’s a bit of both.

“These are animals that have not had an opportunity to become socialised to people. They don’t necessarily even know that children are small human beings. They tend to see them as prey.”

Gladwell continued: “The strongest connection of all, though, is between the trait of dog viciousness and certain kinds of dog owners. In about a quarter of fatal dog-bite cases, the dog owners were previously involved in illegal fighting.

“The dogs that bite people are, in many cases, socially isolated because their owners are socially isolated, and they are vicious because they have owners who want a vicious dog.

“The junk-yard German shepherd – which looks as if it would rip your throat out – and the German shepherd guide dog are the same breed. But they are not the same dog, because they have owners with different intentions.”

Lockwood said: “A fatal dog attack is not just a dog bite by a big or aggressive dog. It is usually a perfect storm of bad human-canine interactions – the wrong dog, the wrong background, the wrong history in the hands of the wrong person in the wrong environmental situation.”

If you think I’m a die-hard dog lover, I’m not.

When I was a 12-year-old, a dog (owned by a Catholic convent running Stella Maris primary school in Tanjung Aru, Sabah) bit the back of my left knee.

It was a local breed.

ONE MAN'S MEAT By PHILIP GOLINGAI

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Pit bull Terrier, a restricted breed; Time to regulate pet shops!

Pit bull Terrier, a restricted breed; Time to regulate pet shops!

Cross-bred bull terrier a restricted breed, says vet dept D-G

PETALING JAYA: The dog that attacked and killed 74-year-old Yip Sun Wah is a miniature bull terrier cross which is a restricted breed in Malaysia.

Restricted breeds were not suitable as household pets, said Veterinary Services Department (DVS) director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Aziz Jamaluddin.

Such breeds, he added, were only meant for the use of military and enforcement agencies and not to be kept as pets.

He added that bull terriers were allowed to be kept as guard dogs providing they were given proper training and schooling.

“When an application is made to the local council for a licence for a restricted breed, the municipal agency will only issue the licence based on our recommendation,” said Dr Abdul Aziz. He said the DVS has published a guidebook to outline breed classification.

The guidelines can also be obtained at http://www.dvs.gov.my/web/guest/listband.

Dr Abdul Aziz also said restricted breeds were not supposed to be sold in pet shops.

He added that the DVS was currently doing a trace to determine the supplier and find out how a restricted breed could have been made available to the owner.

“I will instruct our enforcement unit to check all pet shops to see if they are selling banned and restricted dog breeds,” said Dr Abdul Aziz.

Meanwhile, dog trainer Wellington Ho said bull terriers have very powerful jaws.

“There is a mechanism in the jaw which tends to lock up when it is clamped shut,” he said.

However, Ho was quick to point out that he personally knew of domesticated bull terriers that have been properly socialised.

“They have very sweet temperaments once they are properly socialised,” he said.

The dog that killed Yip had a valid licence issued by the Subang Jaya Municipal Council.

The case will be investigated by the police under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code for causing death by negligence, which carries a maximum of two years' jail, a fine or both. - The Star

Images for the american pitbull graphics

Time to regulate pet shops, say canine welfare groups

By WANI MUTHIAH wani@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Canine welfare groups are outraged over the death of 74-year-old Yip Sun Wah after he was mauled by a miniature bull terrier cross.

They claimed that one of the reasons behind Yip's death was the poor regulation of pet shops, which sell restricted breeds suspected of being obtained from backyard breeders.

Save a Stray founder Jacqueline Tsang said Yip's tragic death was due to irresponsible breeders who did not ensure the bull terrier's owner had the expertise to handle the dog.

“I also hold the enforcers liable for not ensuring the restriction (on restricted breeds) was being properly implemented,” said Tsang.

Canine rescue project Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better coordinator Irene Low said it was time for the authorities to seriously regulate pet shops that sold such animals.

“Only then can backyard breeders, who carry out unethical breeding, be put out of business as they would not have a platform to sell their dogs and puppies,” she said.

According to Low, unethical breeders also had a tendency to cross-breed dogs that were not compatible with each other.

“When indiscriminate cross-breeding is done, it can seriously affect the dogs' temperament,” she said.

Furry Friends Farm founder Sabrina Yeap said the temperament of a dog was usually influenced by the environment it was brought up in.

“Whatever the breed, what matters most is the upbringing. I personally know of bull terriers that are loving family pets,” said Yeap.

KL Pooch Rescue co-founder Shannon Lam said the loss of a father and husband to any violent attack was unspeakable.

“Equally tragic is a society that seeks to punish a beast for behaving as such rather than punishing those who are behind its aggression,” she added.

Meanwhile, sources say several rescue groups are getting together to request the authorities not to euthanise the dog.

Dog trainer and G-Pet Boarding and Training Centre Carlos Huertez said he would take the dog in if the authorities were willing to hand over the bull terrier.

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American Pit Bull Kills Jogger !
Killer dog's owners make appearance at victim's funeral

American Pit Bull Kills Jogger !

SUBANG JAYA: A man who just turned 74 a few days ago was killed by a american pit bull while jogging in his housing area.

Yip Sun Wah died at the scene after the dog bit him on the neck and almost tore off his left ear in the 9.50am incident in Jalan SS19/5B, about 1km from Yip's house here.

The dog ran out of its owner's house and attacked Yip for almost four minutes before returning home.
A car salesman, who only wanted to be identified as Addy, 44, said he was on his way to meet a customer when he saw Yip being attacked by the dog.

Deadly bite: A family member mourning over Yip’s body in front of a house in SS19, Subang Jaya yesterday.

 

He said he tried to hit the dog with his umbrella but it was too aggressive and only stopped attacking after Yip was motionless.

It is learnt that the owner had just got the animal about three months ago after her house was robbed.

Subang Jaya OCPD ACP Yahaya Ramli said the 25-year-old female accountant had bought the animal from a private kennel. He said she has a licence to keep the dog.

“We have released her after recording her statement,” he added.

ACP Yahaya also said the dog had escaped from the house through the rubbish compartment door which was not properly secured.

The victim's body was sent to the University Malaya Medical Centre while the dog is now with the Shah Alam Municipal Council.

ACP Yahaya said the animal would be tested to ascertain if it has any disease.

The victim's eldest son Hon Mun, 51, said he was informed of the incident by an eyewitness who called him using his father's mobile phone.

“I rushed to the scene immediately but my father was already dead,” he said, adding the victim had been jogging in the area for the past 20 years.

The case is being investigated under Section 304(a) of the Penal Code for causing death by negligence which carries a maximum two years' jail sentence or a fine or both.

Meanwhile, Subang Jaya Municipal Council director Dr Roslan Mohamed Hussin said it had started checking residential areas in the township for breeds that were said to be aggressive and dangerous.

“Seven dog breeds, namely Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, American Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanesa Tosa and American Pit Bull are predisposed to aggressive or dangerous behaviour,” he said.

The council is also enforcing a directive from the Selangor Veterinary Department to ban these “unmanageable or possibly dangerous” breeds.

By RASHITHA A. HAMID rashitha@thestar.com.my

Pit Bull Kills 74year old Jogger in Subang Jaya

Dangerous animal: The pit buill being taken away by a man believed to be a family member of the dog owner.

Images for the american pitbull graphics