IPOH: 10 animal welfare organisations are urging the Ipoh City Council (MBI) to engage with animal welfare groups and reinstate the Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return and Manage (TNVRM) programme as a long term solution to the city’s stray dog problem.
Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) president Ricky Soong said they were increasingly concerned over the recent rise in stray dog culling operations by enforcement authorities, claiming the intensified operations had placed immense pressure on animal welfare groups.
He said the stricter conditions imposed for reclaiming captured dogs had made it increasingly difficult for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to rescue and care for the animals.
Soong was among those who submitted the memorandum at the Mayor’s office on Friday (July 17).
“Despite their willingness to assist, many NGOs no longer had the resources, manpower or financial capacity to continue bearing the responsibility on their own.
"Animal welfare groups had for years undertaken rescue work, sterilisation, medical treatment, sheltering, rehabilitation and adoption programmes.
"However the growing stray animal population, coupled with limited shelter space, funding and volunteers, had pushed many organisations to their limits,” he said.
Soong said in the memorandum the organisations stressed that the stray animal issue could not be resolved through continuous capture or euthanasia alone, saying a sustainable solution required close cooperation between the local government, enforcement agencies, animal welfare organisations, veterinarians and the community.
He said they proposed that MBI convene a meeting with all animal welfare NGOs to discuss and reinstate the TNVRM programme, which they described as an internationally recognised, humane and sustainable approach to controlling stray animal populations.
“TNVRM helps reduce the stray population by preventing reproduction, improving public health and promoting responsible community management, instead of relying on repeated capture and euthanasia.
"We hope MBI would consider the views of frontline animal welfare groups and adopt a collaborative, transparent and responsible approach in formulating policies that balance public interests with animal welfare,” he said.
Efforts have been made to reach out to MBI and to the State Housing and Local Government committee chairman Sandrea Ng.
