KLANG: An animal welfare organisation has called for the implementation of a national stray animal policy to manage the nation’s increasing street animal population efficiently and humanely.
Protection and Welfare of Animals (IAPWA) Penang said in this way, street dogs and cats will also be protected and not treated cruelly.
Its president Choong Koon Yean added that such a policy was urgently needed given the many complaints against local councils for their allegedly inhumane methods of handling, catching and culling street animals.
“We really need urgent reviews of the standard operating procedures (SOP) and oversights by relevant authorities to uphold animal welfare and public safety,’’ she said.
In view of this, IAPWA has formulated a blueprint for this proposed policy, which will be presented to the government.
According to the IAPWA proposal, welfare officers must be engaged to oversee ethical and effective street animal population management across Malaysia.
Choong explained that having a national policy on the handling and management of street animals would prevent incidents such as the recent case in Kluang from repeating itself.
In the video circulated on social media, some men, believed to be Kluang Municipal Council (MPK) employees, are seen roughly handling some street dogs before euthanising them, along with the animals squealing in pain before being dumped into a freshly dug grave.
“If healthy dogs and puppies are screaming or showing signs of distress during the euthanasia process, it strongly indicates that the procedure is not being carried out humanely or properly,’’ said Choong.
MPK has since issued a statement claiming that no cruelty was involved as its personnel had adhered to their SOP.
Choong added that the government must acknowledge that stray overpopulation is a national problem, which requires it to be handled in a structured, humane and sustainable manner.
She said in order for the policy to be successfully implemented, there must be a good working relationship between the relevant authorities and animal rescue and welfare groups.
“We firmly believe that no single authority, non-governmental organisation (NGO) or individual can solve the street animal crisis alone.
“That’s why we strongly urge authorities to collaborate with NGOs and experts to create a similar working relationship that IAPWA Penang has with the Penang Island City Council, to implement humane and effective solutions,’’ said Choong.
IAPWA is currently working with the Penang government on the state’s Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage initiative for street cats and dogs on Penang Island.
On another matter, an NGO said rescuers and shelters are burdened with the high cost imposed as “bail” when dogs are removed from local council pounds.
AnimalCare Society founder Dr Chan Kah Yein hoped local councils will consider allowing caregivers of stray cats and dogs to remove the captured animals from pounds without any charges.
“This is especially so if the animals have already been neutered (evidenced by the ear-notch) as they will not breed anymore,’’ she said.
