PETALING JAYA: Critics of how the Seremban City Council (MBS) address issues of stray dogs should come forward with more effective alternatives rather than continue to 'bark at a hill', says the mayor.
Sinar Harian reported Datuk Masri Baharuddin saying that the council was open to receiving suggestions, provided they were well-founded.
“I am open to all views as we work together to find the best solution, but do not merely criticise our efforts like the Malay proverb ‘dogs barking at a hill ’-making noise to no avail.
“It is easy to question what is being done, but resolving the problem is far from easy.
“My primary objective is to ensure that areas under MBS are free from the problem of stray dogs,” he told Sinar Harian on Friday (Aug 14).
He was responding to criticism from certain quarters over the Voluntary Surrender of Stray Dogs Cash Incentive Programme, which is due to begin on Aug 24.
Masri said MBS was also often blamed for failing to address the problem whenever attacks or accidents involving stray dogs occurred.
He expressed hope that all parties would view the council’s efforts to tackle the problem positively, adding that he believed only a small minority was dissatisfied.
“As I stated on Thursday (Aug 13), we are not capturing and putting them down. All the animals will be managed by non-governmental organisations and placed in suitable locations.
“If anyone has a better way of resolving the stray dog problem, please tell us. Do not simply object,” he said.
Masri also said MBS had appointed a contractor to carry out operations to capture stray dogs.
The council had also allocated funds for a neutering programme to control the animals’ population, he added.
“The cost of managing stray dogs is considerable. However, I want to stress that anyone willing to take in all these dogs is very welcome to do so.
“We will, however, charge them a fee to cover the costs incurred by MBS while caring for the animals,” he said.
