Animal shelter to house Shah Alam strays

A SHELTER and adoption centre for stray animals will be set up in Denai Alam, Shah Alam to control the population of strays in the area.

The joint project by developer Sime Darby Property, Denai Alam Residents Association (Dara), Persatuan Kebajikan Haiwan City of Elmina (formerly Dogs of Denai Alam), and Caring Community Caring Government, a group under the Selangor government, was set up following news of stray dogs that were poisoned in Elmina Garden some months ago.

In August, StarMetro reported 17 stray dogs that died from poisoning at Elmina Garden.

There were also animal cruelty cases where stray dogs were spotted in Denai Alam with severed legs and near Persiaran Elmina, where foreigners were captured on video beating to death a stray dog then consuming it.

MBSA councillor in charge of U9 and U16 Muhammad Shakir Ameer Mohideen said the animal shelter in Denai Alam will be set up by Sime Darby Property.

Stray animals are an issue in Section U16 but organisations have been trying to reduce the population by neutering, vaccinating and re-homing strays.

“In the meantime, there will be continuous discussion among stakeholders on the sustainability of the project to ensure animal control is done in a more humane and sustainable approach that can benefit the community in general without causing harm to animals,” he said.

Muhammad Shakir hopes the project will help to reduce strays and that more people will adopt them.

“It’s a positive initiative by everyone.

“Cooperation between the residents’ association, Sime Darby and animal rights group is positive and we want to handle issues of strays in a proper manner. “When it comes to animal control, it is important that we are civilised about it,” he said.

Muhammad Shakir proposed that stray dogs should also be adopted by factories or companies as guard dogs to ensure the strays find a good home.

A Sime Darby Property spokesman said the construction of the animal shelter was expected to start in January next year.

The construction is subject to approval by the Shah Alam City Council and Petaling District Land Office, with completion expected to take about two weeks.

The shelter will be located on a piece of land close to Sime Darby Property operations office in Denai Alam that can house up to 100 animals.

Sime Darby Property is assisting the NGO to acquire a temporary occupation licence for temporary use of land and the required permits to operate.

“The shelter will be built according to the Animal Welfare Act 2015 guideline, with expert advice from MBSA and SPCA.

“It will be managed by Persatuan Kebajikan Haiwan City of Elmina, accepting only animals from MBSA’s MPP Zone 22 covering sections U9 and U16 in Shah Alam. “The total cost of the shelter is still being finalised.”

One of the founders of Persatuan Kebajikan Haiwan City of Elmina Kelvin Raj said all parties were looking forward to sign an agreement which details one’s responsibility.

Kelvin said the shelter was only a short-term solution and that a long-term solution to reducing strays would need society engagements.

He said all parties involved would have a role to play, beyond just setting up a shelter.

Kelvin added that he has engaged with MBSA to review their by-laws in terms of curbing the stray issue, starting with licensing for dogs.

“We need MBSA to step up and show an example. I will also approach schools next year to talk about animal welfare.

“The idea is to be a model to other areas in Shah Alam and for people to look into adopting,” he said.

Kelvin hopes the shelter to be ready by end of November.

He said the organisation would recruit volunteers to help manage the shelter.

“We will operate base on resources we have but everyone involved will have to play a continuous support,” he said.