BALIK Pulau farmers and estate owners needing dogs to guard their property should adopt instead of breeding their own.
International Aid for the Protection and Welfare of Animals (IAPWA) Penang president Choong Koon Yean said the organisation has many healthy dogs for adoption that have been neutered.
“I find that in general, there is still a lack of awareness among the public on the importance of neutering dogs, which is to prevent unwanted puppies from becoming strays,” she said.
Choong says there is lack of awareness among the public on the importance of neutering dogs.
Choong, who spoke at the launch of the Penang Island City Council’s (MBPP) Trap-Neuter-Release or Rehome programme called “TNR For A Sustainable Balik Pulau”, said the dog abandonment and stray problem would only get worse if the situation was not controlled.
“This programme will allow us to provide the neutering service to the farmers in Balik Pulau for free. This is a way for us to encourage them to stop breeding and abandoning dogs.
“Our aim is to neuter at least 200 dogs in Balik Pulau this year through this programme.
“We will collect the dogs, bring them to the veterinarian and neuter them before returning them,” she said, thanking Pentamaster Technology (M) Sdn Bhd for its sponsorship of the programme.
“Only healthy, injury-free and fit-for-neutering canines above four months old will be accepted for this programme,” she said and lauded MBPP for its proactive and effective approach to managing stray dogs in the state.
Also present at the launch in City Hall was MBPP’s stray and abandoned dog sub-committee chairman Connie Tan who revealed that since the start of the TNR programme in March 2018, more than 4,800 dogs had been neutered as of March 31 this year.
Tan says more than 4,800 dogs have been neutered as of March 31 this year since the start of the TNR programme in March 2018.
“There are an estimated 10,000 stray dogs on Penang island, and the MBPP has achieved almost 50% neutering rate with the help of IAPWA.
“We also no longer have a kill policy on strays since adopting the TNR programme where strays are placed back in their original areas for their feeders after neutering,” she said in her opening speech at the programme launch.
Tan said there were many hilly areas and farms in Balik Pulau, which made MBPP’s effort to control the stray and abandoned dogs problem more challenging than in the northeast district.
She urged pet owners to quickly spay their dogs and those wanting pets should “adopt and not shop” as there were thousands of dogs and cats housed in the numerous shelters throughout Penang.
Pentamaster Technology executive chairman Chuah Choon Bin later handed a contribution of RM40,000 to IAPWA Penang in support of the programme.
The mock cheque presentation ceremony was attended by former Penang island mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang and his predecessor Datuk A. Rajendran.
Yew said MBPP would work closely with the Penang Fruit Farmers Association to make the programme a success.
He also urged dog owners to obtain and renew their dog licence via ulesen.mbpp.gov.my
Chuah said Pentamaster was happy to support MBPP’s TNR programme.
“We feel sad for the strays and abandoned dogs as they have to face countless dangers and hardships, and are subjected to abuse in their daily lives.
“We also strongly feel that we should play our part to help them and the state,” he added.
For more details on the “TNR For A Sustainable Balik Pulau” programme, call MBPP at 04-281 0850 or WhatsApp IAPWA at 010-388 3487.
