KUCHING: The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) is planning to introduce pet-friendly parks to allow the public and their pets to share recreational spaces.
Its mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the council is currently identifying suitable locations and planning the required facilities to accommodate both parkgoers and their pets.
“So the park will not only be for walking, but also allow visitors to bring their pets together,” he told reporters after the flag-off of the 5km and 3km Pet Walk 2.0 at MBKS here today (April 26).
He added that the proposal was also raised by the Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, highlighting the importance of physical activity for both humans and animals.
“Pets, like humans, also require regular physical activity. So we will look into the proposal (pet-friendly parks), and hopefully, once all the plans are finalised, we will be able to implement it by next year or, at the latest, by the end of the year,” he added.
He stressed that site selection must be done carefully due to public concerns over rabies, including the need to ensure pets entering such areas are vaccinated and properly certified.
“I think a survey will also be needed, as people are quite sensitive, especially with the presence of rabies.
“Certifying pets as vaccinated will require proper procedures and compliance with set requirements.
“The council is still reviewing these measures, as the rollout of the pet-friendly park initiative is currently being delayed due to concerns over rabies,” he said.
Wee also stressed the importance of responsible pet ownership, urging owners to comply with regulations once the parks are established.
At present, only a few parks such as Taman Hui Sing are officially pet-friendly, while pets are generally allowed in other parks unless otherwise stated.
Meanwhile, Wee also revealed that MBKS is drafting policies to address the abandonment of dogs at construction sites, where animals are often used as guard dogs but left behind once projects are completed.
The proposed policy may require registration and a deposit to prevent abandonment and ensure animals are relocated properly when construction work is completed.
“I mean, they can bring their pets to the designated site, but they must not abandon them. These are the policies we are looking into.
“We have just concluded our management meeting and we are now getting the legal team to draft the policies for implementation,” he said.
