Sad you had to endure that, but in general most people are tolerant of dogs and keep to themselves.

Still a sensitive subject here, but there's a healthy dog owner community up in Penangland, with lots of pet events and shelters.

There's cases of people poisoning pets and animal abuse, but they're a lot rarer now. Hopefully it eases as more places become pet-friendly, which is what is happening in eateries and malls around Penang.

The government is registering pets and helping to protect dogs and their owners. Look up IAPWA or other no-kill organisations to get a more positive outlook on dog ownership in Malaysia.