IPOH: The Perak government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling the state’s stray animal issue through long-term, sustainable measures.
State housing and local government committee chairman Sandrea Ng said the memorandum submitted by several animal welfare organisations to the Ipoh City Council (MBI) over recent stray dog capture operations would be reviewed by the local authority.
"The memorandum has been submitted to MBI, and I believe the City Council will review the matters raised accordingly," she said on Wednesday (July 22) when asked to comment on the memorandum.
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In the memorandum, Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) president Ricky Soong said animal welfare organisations want MBI to engage with them to reinstate the trap, neuter, vaccinate, return and manage (TNVRM) programme as a long term-solution to the city’s stray dog problem.
Soong said they were increasingly concerned over the recent rise in stray dog culling operations by enforcement authorities, claiming the intensified operations put great pressure on animal welfare groups.
Ng said the state government appreciated the contributions by various parties over the years in addressing the stray animal issue, but stressed that no single approach would provide a lasting solution.
"The issue requires a comprehensive and sustainable approach that combines responsible pet ownership, sterilisation, licensing, public education and community participation," she said.
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Ng noted that these principles formed the basis of the Perak Pawsitive Initiative, which aims to manage the existing stray population and address the root causes, promoting responsible pet ownership to reduce the number of unwanted animals on the streets.
"As long as pets are abandoned, allowed to roam freely, or breed indiscriminately, we are simply dealing with the consequences instead of addressing the root cause," she said.
Ng said the initiative includes subsidised sterilisation programmes, responsible pet ownership campaigns, public education efforts and close collaboration with local councils and animal welfare organisations.
She added that new initiatives introduced this year include the Responsible Pet Ownership Handbook and the Feeder Mapping App to support a more structured, systematic and long-term approach to stray animal management.
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"The programme has expanded across the state, with activities already held in Kampar, Tanjung Malim, Ipoh and Taiping.
"Kerian will host the next programme this weekend, with more districts to follow," she added.
She said since the initiative was introduced in 2024, the state government has provided funding for subsidised sterilisation programmes and expects to surpass 2,000 cats and dogs sterilised under Perak Pawsitive after this weekend's programme.
Ng said the state government would continue strengthening and expanding the initiative statewide through practical, evidence-based and long-term measures to improve its effectiveness and reach more communities.
