GEORGE TOWN, March 2 — A dog owner has lodged a police report against the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) over the death of his dog, Butcho, two days ago.

K. Chendeladevan, 49, claimed his 15-year-old dog was tranquilised and taken away by MBPP dog catchers early Wednesday morning.

The water sports operator, known on the island as a "beach boy”, said he went to claim the dog from the MBPP dog pound but he was told that the dog had escaped.

"They told me my dog escaped when the MBPP van stopped to catch other dogs along the beach at Hard Rock Hotel so I went there to search for her,” he said.

After spending hours searching for her in vain, he was later informed by the council that the dog had died.

"My dog had a license. It fell off when they caught her and I went to claim her but now they tell me she’s dead, they won’t even give her body back to me, I don’t know what happened to her,” he said.

Chendeladevan later lodged a police report at the Batu Ferringhi police station over the incident as he wanted the council to return the dog’s body to him.

Animal activist Dalbinder Singh claimed that Butcho was a gentle dog who should not be treated so violently.

"Witnesses saw the council dog catchers shot her with tranquilizer and roughly dragged her to the van that morning,” he said.

He said they were not criticising the council for taking action after complaints of aggressive stray dogs at the Batu Ferringhi public beach.

"We only want to know why the council did not conduct a proper investigation first before coming and taking a docile, friendly dog that was not aggressive at all which is now dead,” he said.

He claimed the council informed him that Butcho had died of a heart attack after she was tranquilised due to her old age.

He also alleged the council had refused to work together with local animal rights groups in handling stray animals issues.

"The council could work together with us on this instead of taking matters in their own hands in such an irresponsible manner,” he said.

When contacted, MBPP councillor Syerleena Abdul Rashid said she knew Butcho very well and that the dog was the "star” of the Golden Sands Resort.

"She was an old dog and we can only speculate what caused her death — most likely it was a cardiac arrest…but again, I’m in no position to confirm the actual cause of death as I am not a qualified vet,” she said.

She added that Butcho didn’t have her license tag on her collar when she was tranquilized.

Syerleena said MBPP will be holding a series of meetings with an animal group, International Aid for the Protection and Welfare of Animals.

"Council will be looking into ways to improve the strays unit,” she said.

She added that it will be challenging as there is still a negative cultural perception when it comes to dogs.

"They are God's creation too and deserve better treatment,” she said.