THERE are plans to ban all pet stores in Selangor from selling cats and dogs to encourage the public to adopt pets from shelters, says Selangor local government, public transportation and new village development committee chairman Ng Sze Han.
“We are still in the midst of finalising the plan to ban all pet stores in the State from selling cats and dogs. Pet stores can sell pet food instead.
“In my constituency in Kinrara, we have a weekly pet adoption program outside the IOI mall and about 20 pets are adopted on a monthly basis.
If all local councils carry out such programmes we can help reduce the pet abandonment rate,” he said at the Forum Pengurusan Anjing Terbiar Selangor 2023.
In addition to that, the Selangor State government has recommended all local councils use the netting method to catch dogs.
He added that the looping method could still be used if stray dogs are in hard-to-reach locations such as under vehicles, small holes or drains.
The forum was attended by representatives of all local councils and non-governmental organisations representing the animal groups in the state.
“The netting method was an innovation by the Sabak Bernam District Council and is a more humane way of catching the dog.
“The looping method can still be used when necessary as it is allowed based on dog catching regulations set by the Ministry of Local Government Development.
“However, in Selangor, all local councils can use the netting method and the looping method based on the situation on the ground,” said Ng.
The netting method allows the dog catches to carry the dogs into the vehicle and to be sent to the dog holding centre. This prevents the dogs from being dragged on the ground, said Ng.
He said the Selangor government is in the final stages of launching an international-standard Fur Shelter on a 1.2-hectare plot of land.
Ng did not reveal the exact location of the shelter, but said it would be at the border of Subang Jaya and close to Cyberjaya.
“This shelter will be for both cats and dogs and there will also be a dog park here. It will also be an educational hub for the public to learn more about stray animals,
“We need continuous awareness and education about stray animals. Some people don’t understand why a stray is returned to the same location after it is caught by the local council," said Ng.
He added that in these cases, the dogs are spayed and then released.
Until the end of May, the Subang Jaya City Council recorded 1,000 cases of public complaints about dogs whilethe Sabak Bernam District Council recorded 3,000 public complaints about dogs in 2022.
At the forum, the non-governmental organisations representing the animal groups requested the authorities to provide more funding for their spay and neuter programmes.
Ng said the government too is short of funds for animal welfare, but added that the Fur Shelter will promote adoption, education and raise funds in a sustainable manner through various activities. - Star
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