Janssen with a few of her 600 rescued dogs at the 4PAWS shelter in Teluk Bahang.
MBSP launches programme to take a bite out of vet bills for cat and dog owners
THE Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) has launched a neutering programme to promote responsible pet ownership and control the stray animal population.
The programme was announced on May 20 by Seberang Perai mayor Datuk Azhar Arshad.
MBSP councillor Heng Yeh Shiuan said the programme was a collaboration with several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in the council’s “Trap, Neuter, Release, Manage and Community Engagement” (TNR-M and CE) initiative.
“Pet owners and animal shelters will be subsidised RM50 (per cat) and RM100 (per dog) when they take their ‘furkids’ to be neutered at the Pet Wellness Veterinary Clinic (north Seberang Perai), Venice Veterinary Clinic (central Seberang Perai) and Introvet Veterinary Clinic (south Seberang Perai),” she said.
Those who are interested can register their pets by visiting the participating clinics, she said.
The programme will run until Dec 31 or until the limited slots have been filled.
For details, call MBSP’s Veterinary Unit at 04-540 2566 or via email vet@mbsp.gov.my
Heng said since January, over 450 stray animals had been neutered under the programme carried out across 57 registered TNR-M and CE areas.
“We have a no-kill policy and MBSP follows the standard operating procedures as outlined by the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
Heng says MBSP will subsidise neutering or spaying costs at selected veterinary clinics.
“Animals are transferred to the permanent care centre of SPCA Seberang Perai after a week, if unclaimed.
“As of last April, we captured 1,200 stray dogs while for the whole of last year, the total was 4,148,” she said.
In Selangor, an initial plan by the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) to catch and kill 500 stray dogs was met with condemnation last month from animal welfare groups nationwide, which called for more humane methods.
Founder of Penang Animal Welfare Society (4PAWS) Barbara Janssen said killing was never the answer to controlling strays.
Instead, she said owners should be educated and given incentives to neuter or spay their pets.
“I run a no-kill shelter in Teluk Bahang and I care for over 600 stray dogs, ensuring that all of them are spayed, despite the considerable cost involved.
“In the past, I could arrange the adoption of at least one dog every month but now I consider it fortunate if a dog finds a home within two months,” she said.
To sustain the shelter, Janssen said she required RM40,000 monthly for veterinary bills, workers’ salaries and food for the dogs.
“The dogs consume 160kg of kibble, 40kg of chicken offal, 30kg of rice and eight tins of canned food daily.
“The food cost is a significant portion of the operating budget,” she said.
Janssen said the shelter relied entirely on public donations, which had significantly decreased in the past few months.
She is appealing for food donations, which can be sent to 429 Jalan Hassan Abbas, Teluk Bahang, Penang.
For details, contact Janssen at 016-342 0703.
