Our nation was surely shocked into sadness and anger upon learning about what has now come to be known as the Banting murders.

And while investigations were ongoing, with two lawyer brother suspects being remanded with the possibility of being charged for the dastardly crimes, another incident certainly alarmed many citizens and many more people across the media-controlled worldwide audience.

The incident was the very quick ‘putting to sleep’ of nine pedigree dogs belonging to the remanded lawyer brothers by the Kuala Langat District Council officers.

It is learnt that deadly tranquilisers were employed in this exercise of expiry, with the reasons given that the dogs were determined to be aggressive and causing harm to docile animals in their vicinity.

Most can attribute the dogs behaviour due to the caretakers not feeding them after the raid, with the dogs reacting as they would normally to strangers, compounded by hunger.

It is truly regrettable that this happened at all, and one questions if greater expertise could have been contacted before such a decision was made.

Certainly we are not short of relevant expertise with many professionals of animal care around and not to mention, domestic animal societies which could have been contacted for their speedy arrival or advise. That this path was not taken in this age of communication is unforgivable.

It is during times like these that a harrowing thought comes across the mind of many a dog concerned person, that if whether a persistent and a collective pre-conditioning of disdain for such a four legged creature, could possibly dis-engage one from thinking rationally towards the (loveable ) creature hailed by many globally as mankind's best friend.

It was the great Mahatma Gandhi who said 'the greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated'. Surely this sad incident is telling enough to inform us all of where we stand then. There is indeed much more work to be done by all and one.