I am in favour that pet owners must obtain their neighbours written consent before they are issued with a licence. Before I proceed, let me first declare that I am a lover of animals. I love cats and dogs and enjoy their company whenever I get the chance to. Why then might you ask do I condone this rule?

Simply because I live next to a few houses that keeps not one but several dogs. And these dogs bark. Not just in the day mind you. Sometimes they bark all night right until the wee hours of the morning. Because our houses are close and the quality of the barks are sharp and cutting, the noise cuts right through my bedroom walls, my double-layered curtains, and the gentle strains of music and tears into my ears.

Occasionally, just to vary things a little, I am shocked awake early in the morning by the eerie human-like quality howling of my neighbours' dogs. Needless to say, I have great trouble sleeping and staying asleep. Amazingly enough, the owners of these dogs have no problems because they dump all their dogs in the back of their house while they all sleep in the front.

So this brings me to my point. I am sure many of you love dogs and love to keep them but many must understand that there is great responsibility in keeping pets and that not many people know this. Pets are just a step below taking care of children. You have a responsibility not only to your pets but also the people around you that may be affected by your pets' actions i.e, your neighbours.

And this is something people are afraid to say - many people who keep pets are very irresponsible or take their duties lightly. They let their dogs run around unleashed; let them defecate or urinate wherever it likes; let them howl at ungodly hours; let them chase people; let them bite people; and sometimes even treat their pets cruelly by keeping them in little cages. Those that write in may claim they treat their dogs like kings and that they are mindful, etc, but I say for every one of you, there are at least 10 who really don't give a woof.

It is because of this that MPSJ has rightly enacted that rule. And I would wholeheartedly endorse any other local council that implements such measures. And let's not put an Islamic spin on this and claim that it is the Islamisation of this country. It is not. If it really was they would just ban dogs altogether.

These rules are not designed to oppress the non-Muslims - they are designed to remind these inconsiderate people that they have to be mindful of their neighbours. It is for this reason other pets are not targeted. None of these animals (except perhaps ayam serama but how many people keep them as pets?) make as much noise as dogs. None are such menaces when their owners are indifferent.

So to all those of you that are hot under the leash over this rule - please place consideration first for your fellow man before you start with your pet dog.