SEVERAL animal welfare groups in Ipoh, Perak, have joined forces with Execute AWA (Animal Welfare Act), a national community movement, in calling for better handling and management of stray populations.
Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), Ipoh Animal Welfare Society, rescuers and individual feeders want mobilisation of the “trap, neuter, vaccinate, rehome/reclaim/release, manage” (TNVR³M) initiative.
Called #ProjekTogetherBoleh, it was launched in Negri Sembilan by NS Happy Paws in collaboration with Rembau District Council and Execute AWA last November.
ISPCA president Ricky Soong said despite continuous engagement, authorities had shown no genuine intent to listen, understand nor adopt humane, evidence-based solutions.
“This is why we fully support #ProjekTogetherBoleh, which strategically and fairly invites shared responsibility for stray population management,” he said in a press conference.
“The initiative will be a step forward to building a truly collaborative, science-based and comprehensive animal management model in Malaysia amid a national crisis concerning overpopulation of strays.
“It is not only aimed at stabilising stray populations humanely and responsibly, but is also targeted at preventing the potential spread of diseases like rabies, while elevating public consciousness on ethics and responsible management of animals.”
Soong hopes state authorities can set a new benchmark for sustainable urban-animal coexistence.
“ISPCA’s vision has always been to move collectively and progressively with relevant parties to replace outdated culling practices with greater compassion, science and structure.”
Ipoh Animal Welfare Society president P. Jassica Morris called on the government to publish all data on stray animal handling and disposal.
“We want to know their plans to establish microchipping and source-management systems, with transparency on how these will be implemented.
“We also urge the authorities to collaborate with us to reinstate the trap, neuter, release, manage (TNRM) method to efficiently and systematically reduce the stray animal population,” she said.
Execute AWA founder Sue Ann Kong said the government must stop Section 30 of AWA 2015 (Act 772), which allows authorities to cull stray animals as a means of population control, from being exploited.
“There needs to be due diligence on stray population management.
“Other countries are adopting the move to spay or neuter animals, which is a science-backed and humane approach,” she said, adding that culling of strays should not be the way forward.
Kong said many welfare organisations were willing to work with the government in handling the issue of strays.
“We are not speaking up to pick a fight, but to engage professionally,” she said in calling for more parties to join #ProjekTogetherBoleh.
