GOPENG: The Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), in collaboration with the Ipoh City Council (MBI), has rounded up about 8,000 stray dogs through the “Trap-Neuter-Release” (TNR) programme since 2017.
Its president Ricky Soong said the TNR process was to prevent the increase of stray dogs population through uncontrolled breeding.
"Having gone through the (TNR) process, the dogs will not be interested in mating which will be able to reduce the breeding activity in an area and control the increase in the number of stray dogs.
"Some NGOs (non-governmental organisations) and I helped establish a shelter for stray dogs. The shelter was opened last month when another shelter, located in Lahat near here, was overcrowded.
"This shelter can only accommodate 60 dogs at a time. We spend about RM10,000 a month to run this centre...to buy food and pay workers, as well as pay the water and electricity bills," he said when met by reporters at the shelter in Kampung Kepayang here today (June 20).
Soong said his team only accepts stray dogs caught by the MBI, and cares for and feeds the dogs for two weeks only, before they are adopted by individuals.
According to him, the team will send the stray dogs to factory or garden areas if they are not adopted by any individual because almost every week, the team receives 20 stray dogs caught by the MBI.
The team does not accept stray dogs caught by other parties due to labour and financial constraints.
Soong said among the challenges he faced while running the shelter was financing. When there is no money, veterinary clinics no longer want to accept the stray dogs which are sent for neutering.
"For each dog, we have to fork out as much as RM350 for spaying and for its collar, tag and healthcare, in addition to buying 300kg of dog food monthly,” he added. - Bernama
