The Malaysian Small Animal Veterinary Association (MSAVA) does really sympathise with the little boy who was savagely bitten by dogs a few weeks ago. The dogs' owner who did not bother to lock his gates and keep his dogs inside must be dealt with.

And if punishment is meted out to irresponsible owners, the authorities should not forget the to reprimand the municipal councils who are lax in enforcing existing laws and allowing dog owners to think that the whole country is their backyard for their dogs.

Irresponsible owners and lack of enforcement has now led municipal councils to draft laws to make it very difficult for dog lovers to keep them as pets. We have to remember that dogs do bite - some bite when provoked, some bite because they have never been trained, while some bite because they are in pain.

But we must also remember that many people the world over can testify to the fact that dogs are also such loving creatures which have integrated well into society as police and guard dogs, drug- sniffing dogs, dogs for the blind, dogs for patient therapy in hospitals and of course, dogs as companions that give so much love and affection to so many families.

In a multi-racial country that is trying to assimilate good values for a caring society, pets play a very important role in inculcating compassion for all of God's living creatures. When children learn to love animals, that love gets translated into humane feelings for fellow beings, a feeling of not being able to cause hurt to others. That is very important in a civilised society.

Malaysian must be allowed be to keep dogs as pets under the following conditions:

All dogs must be vaccinated, dewormed and micro-chipped by accredited veterinary authorities in the government and private sectors. Only such dogs should be licenced by the local municipal councils.

If the pets are large breed dogs, the municipal councils should specify the minimum area required to keep them. Pets should have proper shelter and clean bowls for food and water. Dogs should be taken for walks on strong leashes. Only those owners who can spare time to communicate with their pets should keep them.

The government should maintain a central database so that all stray or lost dogs can be identified through their chips and their owners traced. The onus for responsible pet ownership rests not only with the owners but also the municipal councils for enforcement of laws pertaining to the keeping of pets.

Last but not least, municipal councils should understand the need to coordinate with the veterinary authorities and MSAVA. Our opinion should be sought before new laws are formulated.

The writer is the president of the Malaysian Small Animal Veterinary Association.