Tourists at Batu Ferringhi mourn the death of female dog Butcho who allegedly died after being caught and tranquilised by Penang Island City Council officers.
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Three British tourists relive fond memories of Butcho, the dog which the Penang Island City Council claims had died from a heart attack after being tranquilised at Batu Ferringhi beach.
GEORGE TOWN: Tourists and animal lovers are mourning the loss of female dog Butcho, who allegedly died after being tranquilised by Penang Island City Council (MBPP) officers in Batu Ferringhi on Wednesday.
A British tourist, who only wanted to be known as Hilary, said she had walked on the beach every day during her six weeks of holidaying here, but would no longer do so with Butcho’s passing.
“I cannot bear to walk on this beach anymore. I used to come down and feed Butcho the first thing in the morning.
“She always took the food gently out of my hand. Butcho was not a vicious dog. It is so sad,” she said between sobs at a press conference on the beach outside Golden Sands Resort where Butcho was usually seen.
Another tourist, Rita, 74, said she could not believe that Butcho, whom she described as a friendly and beautiful dog, was gone.
A spot along the Batu Ferringhi beach where Butcho used to eat and drink.
“The beach will never be the same again. There was not a nasty bone in her body,” she said.
Both tourists have been returning to Penang annually for almost 30 years.
Butcho’s owner K Chendeladevan, 49, said he lodged a police report against the MBPP over her death, the same day she went missing.
The water sports operator had gone to the MBPP’s dog pound to claim Butcho, but was told that she had escaped when the council van had stopped to catch other dogs near Hard Rock Hotel.
“I got my friends to help and we searched high and low for Butcho. We searched for hours, but we could not find her.
“It was only later that I found out that my dog was tranquilised and dragged to her death,” he said.
K Chendeladevan showing proof that he had a dog licence for Butcho.
“Until today I have yet to see my dog’s body. We have tried calling the council, as well as sent WhatsApp messages, but there has been no response.”
Chendeladevan also said he had a dog licence for Butcho, showing documentary proof as well as the dog tag which he claimed had possibly come off when Butcho was dragged to the MBPP van.
Animal activist Dalbinder Singh questioned why MBPP had to resort to tranquilising a friendly dog.
He said they had nothing against the council who they understood was taking action following complaints of aggressive stray dogs.
He also took MBPP to task for claiming that Butcho died of a heart attack after she was tranquilised because of her old age.
Dalbinder urged the council to work with local independent animal rights groups in managing the stray population.
When contacted, MBPP councillor Syerleena Abdul Rashid said she knew Butcho herself and had taken care of the dog for many years.
“She lived a good life and was the ‘star’ of Golden Sands, but she was an old dog and we can only speculate what caused her death,” she said.
Syerleena also said Butcho did not have a dog licence tag on her collar when she was tranquilised.
She added that the council would hold a series of meetings with animal charity group International Aid for the Protection and Welfare of Animals (IAPWA) and look into ways to improve its unit overseeing action on strays.
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