THE Klang Municipal Council’s (MPK) Health Department catches dogs in a humane manner and is committed to getting strays adopted, says its director Azmi Muji.
He said the council uses an insulated tube loop to ensure the strays were caught safely.
“Catching a dog (in this manner) is not simple as our men have to pursue the animal for a distance because it runs at the sight of the loop,” he said in response to videos and claims on social media that allege MPK staff had injured a stray dog during a recent operation.
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It is understood a short video of the incident went viral, showing the animal bleeding from the mouth while secured with a leash.
Azmi added that the dog was caught due to public complaints about it in the area.
“Our municipality is faced with many abandoned dogs that move in packs while others roam about solo on the streets, scavenging for food,” he said.
He said those who feed stray dogs should consider adopting the animals and obtaining a licence for them.
“Our department’s outreach programme for this year up to May saw 49 dogs adopted from the council’s pound. We spend RM35,680 a year on dry food pellets for the dogs,” he said.
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Similarly, MPK Corporate Communications Department director Norfiza Mahfiz said in 2021, ratepayers had called to complain about 1,368 stray dogs in the district.
She added that from January to Aug 18 this year, MPK received 1,250 complaints on incessant barking, rubbish bags torn apart by strays and motorcyclists being chased by dogs.
“Complaints over several years have led to increasing bitterness between dog lovers and those who want action against the rise of stray dogs”, she said.
Also commenting on the video, MPK secretary Elya Marini Darmin said the stray's capture was done according to the standard operating procedure that followed the Dog Licensing and Dog Breeding House Licensing Bylaw (MPK) 17(1) 2007.
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“I would like to assure the concerned public that the canine caught had some minor injuries. But the dog was given medical treatment at the council’s pound and is fine,” she said.
Meanwhile, former MPK Canine Advisory Team chairman Anthony Thanasayan said he had seen the short video and added that nothing untoward had taken place.
“In this case the bleeding is a normal occurrence among frightened dogs (which bite) the loop in order to escape. Mild lacerations on the tongue are inevitable and are not serious,” said Anthony, who is president of the animal therapy association Petpositive.
Anthony added that the bleeding will stop within minutes, as pointed out by a Veterinary Services Department staff during a dog-catching joint exercise with MPK and the Petaling Jaya City Council in the past.
He was the team's chairman from 2008 to 2013, while serving as a councillor.
“I look forward to their report when it is completed. Frankly, as an animal welfare activist and someone who has engaged with them many times, (I find that) MPK is one of the more progressive councils in Selangor,” he said.
He added that this was because MPK has stray management programmes with its own dog pound and an ongoing re-homing exercise for strays, among others.
