IPOH: A police report will be lodged over the deaths of several stray dogs found with foam around their mouths at Desa Rishah Indah, says Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) president Ricky Soong.
Soong said that while the dogs were strays, poisoning animals is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2015.
"We are deeply saddened and outraged by this incident," he said when contacted on Sunday (Sept 27).
"It was a very inhumane act. Every life matters."
"We have asked our fellow volunteers to lodge a police report at the police station and will cooperate fully with the investigation," he added.
It was reported that three stray dogs were found dead on Saturday (Sept 26) at about 7.30am in the area.
It is believed that the dogs may have been poisoned, marking the first time such an incident has occurred in the vicinity.
Soong advised the public not to take the law into their own hands, but to report stray animal issues to the Ipoh City Council or relevant non-governmental organisations.
He added that reporting such matters can serve as a warning to potential perpetrators.
"If possible, get evidence so that the authorities can deal with these killers," he said.
On further action, Soong said the ISPCA would continue petitioning the government to reintroduce Trap, Neuter, Release, Manage (TNRM) programmes.
"At present, all shelters in Ipoh are overcrowded and at full capacity, and volunteers are no longer able to take in more stray dogs," he said. "If the TNRM programme is not implemented effectively, the situation will only worsen."
