These two comments refer to a letter titled "No pets in apartments?" by Rachna Johar (The Jakarta Post, Feb. 5, p. 20)

I agree with you to some extent on the issue of pets; however we should also consider the suitability of an apartment for pets. Apartments are far from suitable for large pets, such as dogs and cats, where they can be a nuisance to neighbors.

These pets need a house and a garden; it is unfair to a dog to keep it in an apartment, as it is for a cat. Apartments generally are small, have either marble or ceramic floors, and therefore are not suitable for these pets.

You are actually being cruel by keeping the pet in an environment that is not natural for it.

Some pets can create a disturbance, such as birds, parrots or parakeets, by making noise, but they also bring the risk of avian influenza.

Such pets as fish, hamsters and other small pets should be excluded from the ban, as these can bring great happiness to their owners, but also do not disturb others in the apartment building.

To say that apartment owners are guilty of cruelty to animals is ridiculous. If there are no pets allowed, those are the rules, and for good reason. You have a choice: Your choice is to find another apartment that will accommodate your pet.

John D

Jakarta

Rachna Johar's letter is only her opinion. Nobody asks future apartment residents to give up their pets (it is absolutely unethical). First, apartment living is community living and not designed for pet lovers.

Second, most apartment buildings in Jakarta are not properly designed to cater for all lifestyles due to the developers being so profit-driven.

There is a different allocation of living space in Indonesian apartments compared to those in the West; they are generally very small apartments and include a "dehumanized" maid's room of limited space and little air circulation.

Thirdly, humans and animals have different lifestyles.

Apartment living is a new thing in Indonesia (less than 20 years old) and most people are not fully aware or do not understand the implications, including Rachna Johar.

Perhaps, The Jakarta Post will dedicate a regular (weekly) section to apartment living that will help local government provide better regulations and allow readers to understand more about it.

John Cha

Jakarta

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