Soong visiting the vacant land where some 30 stray dogs are living with a man in his 30s.
A MAN and about 30 stray dogs living on a vacant piece of land in Taman Fahlum Bintang, Ipoh are causing problems for nearby residents.
According to them, the man in his 30s, has been residing in a shed on the land for the past five years.
He came with one female dog but over the past year, the dog population had increased to 30.
Acting on behalf of his neighbours, resident A. Anthonisamy, 87, had submitted five complaints on the dogs to Ipoh City Council (MBI) since December last year.
The latest letter of complaint was sent on May 25.
He said the dogs defecated all over the place, including in the back lanes and main roads.
“Each time we step out of our houses, we need to be careful where we step.
“The dogs loiter outside our houses, scatter our rubbish and create a mess,” he said when met in the area.
Anthonisamy said the residents did not know the identity of the man as he kept to himself.
“My house is one of the closest to the open land where the dogs are kept.
“I cannot leave my kitchen window open as the stench from the faeces and urine is too strong,” he added.
Anthonisamy said he saw MBI enforcement officers at the vacant land in April, but was not sure what came of it.
Another resident Wong Fee Sin, 78, said the dogs were a nuisance as they would howl in the middle of the night and disrupt their sleep.
“Some of the dogs even sleep in the middle of the road, and motorists honk incessantly, disturbing the peace,” he added.
Gurcharan Singh, 82, said motorcyclists were often chased by the strays.
“Rubbish bags from our houses are also dragged by the dogs to other parts of the neighbourhood, making a mess and attracting flies.
“My three grandchildren can no longer cycle in the back lane as it is filled with dog poo, and the area is smelly and dirty,” he added.
Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) president Ricky Soong said he would check with MBI on the matter.
He said it was important to find out who owned the vacant land.
“ISPCA can do something about the dogs only after the city council has taken action.
“They would either be put up for adoption or housed in a shelter,” he added.
When contacted, Ipoh city councillor G. Thilak Raj said the Enforcement Department had issued the man with a RM300 summons in April for not obtaining licence for the dogs and keeping more than the permitted two animals.
“The enforcement officers advised the man to keep only two dogs,” he said, adding that the 30 dogs were still at the site when he last checked.
“The case has been referred to the council’s Environmental Health Department which issued a notice to the man for causing disturbance to the residents,” he said, adding that the place could only be sealed once the notice expires.
Thilak said he planned to visit the site with council officers soon to find a solution to the matter.
