Speaking at a press conference by a coalition of 21 animal welfare NGOs today, Global Human Rights Federation president S Shashi Kumar said rescuers were often pressured into paying large sums to save stray dogs.

“All of us are taxpayers, yet we are taking out from our own pockets, our savings, to save all these animals. And the government, what they do is, they hold you to ransom. This is extortion,” he said.

Shashi claimed that local councils often gave rescuers little time to act before euthanising the animals.

“They tell you, if you don’t take the dog out now, in 15 minutes, you can’t see the dog. What they mean is, they will put them to sleep,” he said.

Lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan questioned the legality of some of the conditions imposed by councils, including requirements involving registration with the department of veterinary services.

Rajesh claimed that some councils were imposing requirements not provided for under existing laws.

He also said certain councils charged up to RM2,000 to release a dog, despite some local by-laws only allowing reasonable administrative fees related to catching and keeping the animals.

“So, if they charge you something like RM10, that’s fine,” he said.

He urged rescuers to demand official receipts for any payments made.

“If there is no receipt, for your information, the money that you just paid was a bribe,” he said.

In July last year, an animal welfare group urged the government to cover bailout fees imposed by local councils, saying the charges were inconsistent and ranged from hundreds to thousands of ringgit per dog.

The group said the fees placed a heavy financial burden on rescuers and NGOs, many of whom relied on donations and personal savings.