BUTTERWORTH: What began as an act of compassion for stray dogs has turned into a source of frustration for residents in Seri Tanjung, where food scraps left by a feeder attracted animals and created a foul-smelling mess.
Seberang Perai city councillor Chong Wei Hoong said residents repeatedly complained about a man who regularly scattered food for stray dogs on the ground from his motorcycle in the area.
Since much of the food was uneaten and the site was not cleaned afterwards, the leftovers began to rot, causing hygiene issues and affecting the residents' quality of life.
They asked the man to stop several times but he reportedly ignored their requests, leaving them no choice but to lodge a complaint with the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP).
Following the complaint, MBSP's Health Department located the man and issued him a warning, reminding him not to scatter food for stray dogs in public places.
A video of him in the act was also recorded.
Chong said failure to comply could result in enforcement action under the relevant local authority by-laws, including community service.
He stressed that while feeding stray animals is a compassionate act, it must be carried out responsibly to avoid creating environmental and public health problems.
"The same regulations also apply to those who feed pigeons or other animals in a manner that causes a public nuisance," he said.
