Dogs that are caught by the Shah Alam City Council are sent to PAWS.
HAVING a dog spayed before a licence is granted to prospective dog owner was among the suggestions made during the Shah Alam City Council's (MBSA) full board meeting yesterday as councillor Muhammad Shakir Ameer Mohideen asked the council to find long-term measures to reduce strays.
He said the current methods were inadequate.
MBSA employs two methods to reduce the population of stray dogs – catching stray when complaints are made, and setting up traps and obstacles to prevent strays from entering a certain area.
“Though dog catchers are dispatched when complaints are made, dogs are clever, they know when the catchers are coming and would hide. Even if you do catch a few, there are still more that would have gotten away,” Muhammad Shakir said.
MBSA Environmental Health officer Norhisham Mohammad said there were certain aspect that needed to look be looked into.
He pointed out that the frequency of rubbish collection especially at communal bins was a factor that could help reduce not just strays but the population of rats and crows as it cut out their source of food.
Norhisham said they would also look into revising the terms in applying for dog license.
“We may look at having them spay their dogs or put identification chips on dogs’ ears so that the council can track the owners of dogs caught on the streets,” he said adding that no solid plans have been put in place as yet.
The council had acquired a certain chemical that could repel animals from entering a certain site.
“This chemical is used in the agriculture sector. We have purchased it and will try this on one location first to see its effects,” he said.
Acording to Norhisham, the chemical emits a smell of a dominant animal and when dogs smell the scent, they would feel uncomfortable and avoid the area.
This, however, would not be able to guarantee a reduction in the population of stray, so he said other methods were also important.
Currently, MBSA’s internal team catches dogs using darts while an external party that act as dog whisperers, use food like chicken, to persuade dogs out of hiding.
The council gets advice on catching dogs from the Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and dogs caught are sent to PAWS.
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