Off to a good start

( From left) Councillors Liew Kar Tuan, Mohd Raduan, Soong and ISPCA adviser Dr Goh Hue Lang, with other ISPCA members, showing the dog collars and literature for the association’s Trap, Neuter, Microchip, Release programme. – RONNIE CHIN/The Star

A TRIAL run of the “Trap, Neuter, Release” (TNR) programme by the Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) has gotten off to a promising start.

ISPCA President Ricky Soong said, prior to its trial run which commenced on April 1, many volunteers and animal lovers had already called to enquire about the programme.

“And up until 2pm, a total of 15 dogs have been brought to participating veterinary clinics to be neutered or spayed and microchipped.

“Given the good response, I should think that our target of getting 500 stray dogs and cats neutered in six months can be achieved in half that time,” Soong said during a press conference on Saturday.

He added that the ISPCA will also be bringing in strays to be neutered and microchipped.

Aimed at controlling the number of strays in Ipoh, which is estimated to number over 30,000 at present, the programme by ISPCA is the first of its kind to be carried out in Malaysia. Under the society’s TNR programme, which is fully backed by the Ipoh City Council, neutered strays are released back to where they were caught with the exception of Malay villages, tourist spots and schools.

The microchip inserted into the animals will contain information such as their location, date neutered and volunteer who brought them in for the procedure, all of which is stored in the ISPCA’s database.

To make it easier for council workers to identify stray dogs which have been neutered, each animal will have their ears snipped and be given a dog tag and collar.

Soong said the council’s enforcement personnel will still round up strays if they cause trouble.

“Should this arise, we will trace the animal’s registered caregiver and get the individual or organisation to relocate the particular animal,” he said.

Councillor Datuk Mohamad Raduan Mohd Kasim, who was also present during the press conference, said should the programme succeed in its objective then the city council will most likely give consideration to further proposals from the ISPCA.

“We also ask other non-governmental organisations to come forward. The council will work with them in their efforts to reduce the number of strays in the city,” he said.

The microchips, dog tags and collars are sponsored by ISPCA and it costs between RM150 and RM200 to neuter a pet.

The participating veterinary clinics are Jean Veterinary Centre (05-545 8281), Ipoh East Veterinary Clinic (05-546 9927), Ipoh Garden Animal Clinic (05-545 5933), Pet Care Animal Clinic & Grooming Centre (012-475 0160), Klinik Haiwan Menglembu (05-281 0868), and Animal Republic Veterinary Clinic (05-545 5596).