They growled, snapped and barked, but Shah Alam dog owners gained from their city council only a minor concession yesterday - that the new, stricter regulations for dog licences would be put off until March next year.

After hearing a litany of complaints from some 40 protesting dog owners, Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) deputy mayor Za'ba Che Rus ( right ) said the council would temporarily suspend the unpopular conditions until they had been scrutinised by a special committee.

Za'ba told the protestors yesterday that the new regulations would not be strictly enforced from Jan 1 onwards as the local government will continue to "loosen the requirements" and approve applications for dog licences under the old rules until March, 2006.

The committee would meet on Jan 9, he said, but he stressed that the council had no plans to scrap the regulations completely.

"If there are a lot of applications (for new dog licences) ... we can, at the latest, issue (all) licences by February or March. For those whom we have not issued licences, we will not take action (against them)," he added.

Za'ba was addressing the dog owners after they had shouted slogans against the new dog licence regime outside the MBSA lobby.

Among the controversial requirements is the requirement for dog owners to obtain permission from immediate neighbours before a dog licence could be issued. Currently, dog owners do not need to seek approval from their neighbours to get a licence.

Another regulation, which has got dog lovers howling in protest, is the inclusion of the notorious rottweiler as one of the eight 'prohibited' breeds.

Dog owners barred

The protestors had earlier sought to enter the MBSA premises to meet Za'ba at his office to persuade the council to scrap the new regulations for dog licenses, but were stopped by security personnel.

After half an hour, Za'ba came out of his office but agreed to speak only with the protest leader behind closed doors. Upon the crowd's refusal to leave until he had met them personally, Za'ba then went outside to hear the litany of protests and inquiries regarding the guidelines.

Natasha Chien ( right ) - who owns 12 Rottweilers among a total of 20 canines - had threatened to bring her dogs to the city hall building in order to have her grouses heard by the council.

"Let's see if they can stop me and my dogs from entering the building then," huffed an indignant Natasha, who hails from the Ukraine.

"Even my rottweilers can get along with my chuhuaua. Why can't these people get along with other people!" she shouted.

Explaining the reasons for the protest, Malaysian Association for Responsible Pet Ownership (Marpo) pro-tem president Dr Jon S Satyamoorthy claimed that a dialogue held between the council and dog owners on Dec 21 had been "futile exercise".

"The deputy mayor did not indicate any change in the regulations. That so-called dialogue was more of a monologue. We are here today to persuade the council to suspend the guidelines," he said.

Pre-empted decisions

Speaking to Za'ba, Mapro legal advisor N Surendran ( left ) voiced concern over the condition which restrict dog ownerships to "those living in single-storey houses, corner terrace-houses, factories and executive clubs".

He asked whether unlicenced dogs, such as those who live in intermediate houses, would be put to death.

Natasha told Za'ba the restrictions to owning not more than two dogs was unreasonable.

"Let me have my dogs for as long as they are properly being taken care of. The issue is to take care of them properly, not how many (dogs you have)," she pleaded.

Referring to fears that Shah Alam would be plagued by dog bites and other accidents should regulations be relaxed, owner of a golden retriever and a poodle Chong Mun Lin ( right ) said the MBSA was seeking to "pre-empt a situation that may not happen."

Seeking to allay their concerns, Za'ba said owners of unlicenced dogs, though they may not strictly fulfill all the conditions stipulated in the regulations, may be issued licenses on a case-by-case basis.

"Those who live in intermediate and terrace houses, we let them (own dogs) as long as the dogs are alive. When the dog has died, we will review (the licence) anew," said Za'ba.

He also said MBSA was empowered by state by-laws to formulate and amend regulations that pertain to the operations and management of Shah Alam.

"These regulations are allowed for the authorities to devise and impose appropriate conditions. It does not mean every regulation will be spelt out in the by-laws. We can formulate or renew (regulations)," said Za'ba.

His statements in the outdoor meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes, did not meet the satisfaction of the protesters.

"We will challenge these regulations in court if the state government does not back off from their position," said Surendran.

"It doesn't end here. We will organise more protests," vowed Anthony Thanasayan ( left ) head of the Malaysian Animal-Assisted Therapy for the Disabled and Elderly Association.