Don’t kill off stray dogs, group pleads with city council

 

Stray dogs in Setia Alam will be captured and euthanised, according to a Shah Alam City Council notice.

PETALING JAYA: An animal rights group has urged the Shah Alam City Council to reconsider its plans to rope in volunteers to capture and euthanise stray dogs in Setia Alam next month.

A notice of the operation states that the city council (MBSA) aims to capture 500 stray dogs, and has proposed rewarding volunteers with RM30 for each dog caught during the exercise from April 22-24.

MBSA is collaborating with local residents for the operation, and the notice said community leaders are required to find eight volunteers to assist in the exercise. Dogs that are caught cannot be claimed and will be brought to the MBSA animal shelter to be euthanised.

The MBSA notice.

PAWS Animal Welfare Society manager Lim Choon Sun said there should be a grace period for people to claim their dogs. He urged the council not to kill the dogs that were caught.

“Why is MBSA taking such a drastic move and catching strays without a chance for them to be bailed out?” Lim said. “If someone’s dog is caught after it runs out of their house, the owners cannot do anything to save them,” he added.

Lim said MBSA should implement a more humane method to reduce the stray dog population. He noted that the trap-neuter-release programme has been proven effective worldwide.

MBSA officer Zamzurie Ali told FMT this is the first time the council has set up a task force to handle stray dogs roaming around Setia Alam.

Zamzurie, who is listed on the notice as one of the officers handling the operation, said the council decided to conduct the exercise after receiving numerous complaints from the public. “Most of the stray dogs disturb the peace by chasing children who are cycling, scratching vehicles, or killing cats in the surrounding areas,” he said. - FMT