GEORGE TOWN: A clean-up operation in public spaces will be carried out by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to deal with the recent reports of dog poisoning cases in Tanjung Bungah.
Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the council would use jet spraying to clean public spaces but said it would be an arduous task.
"Maintaining this level of cleanliness, especially through continuously hosing down streets and parks with water is challenging as it will take up plenty of resources.
"We do plan on jet-spraying the affected areas. This is not something we can do often," he said during a press conference held by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow at his office in Komtar on Thursday (Aug 1).
Rajendran was responding to questions by the press on whether the council would look into the recent deaths and carry out cleaning activities in the Tanjung Bungah area following the recent death of strays and pet dogs in the area.
He said it would be an uphill task to carry out the cleaning repeatedly.
"We have caught some stray dogs there.
"They are all under the Trap, Neuter and Release programme which means that the population of stray dogs is decreasing.
"There are fewer than 1,000 strays here now.
"Many of these dogs escape into the hill area and only come down if there is food.
"We catch these dogs but when they are released we send them back to the original location as it is the only way they will survive unless we can rehome them.
"We urge for understanding as they are strays," he said.
Recently it has come to light that over 30 dogs are believed to have died in the area.
Residents in Tanjung Bungah reported the deaths including a Belgian Malinois and Siberian husky.
It was reported that the 30 dogs, mostly trap-neuter-release strays and the pet dogs in the Tanjung Bungah area were believed to have been poisoned over the past few months.
The carcasses of the dogs were been found by feeders in several areas in the last few months.
Dead birds were said to have been found dead in the area as well.
It was believed that either the grass in the area was laced with poison or someone was placing poison-laced food in the park.
A police report regarding the poisoning has been lodged.
