AS founder of AnimalCare Society Petaling Selangor, I am appealing to Nga Kor Ming, our new Local Government Development Minister, to consider empowering the community in managing the street animal population in their respective neighbourhoods.
The minister must be aware that street animals in our country are not often looked upon kindly by society, especially people who think the animals pose a danger to public health and safety.
Whenever complaints are made to the authorities, these animals would be captured and destroyed by the local councils. This method has been used for decades, but it has yet to resolve the problem.
Capturing and removing the animals from the community would only create a vacuum that would allow new and non-neutered ones to enter and occupy the space.
Putting these animals in shelters is also not the solution. How many shelters can we build? Furthermore, many existing shelters are not only full to the brim but some are also in very wanting conditions.
It would be better to get these animals neutered and returned to the colony to be managed by compassionate caregivers. We call this method Care-Neuter-Return-Manage (CNRM), which is universally known as Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage.
We notch the ear of neutered animals to indicate that they will not breed anymore (pic). Notching is done under anaesthesia during the neutering procedure. Neutered male animals can also be identified through the absence of their testicles.
Neutering stops breeding, thus controlling the population. With the population under control, there would be fewer complaints from the public. In time to come, those who fear street animals might even accept the presence of CNRM-animals and live in harmony with them.
A good example of this is in Turkey, especially in Istanbul, where neutered street animals continue to live on the street but are managed by members of the community. Food stations are set up for the animals, and the community’s efforts are fully supported by the government.
The animals are also vaccinated, reducing the risk of disease. Most importantly, their population will not increase.
The Netherlands have also successfully implemented a similar programme, and as of 2016, it became the first country in the world to be free of stray dogs. Street cats are allowed to roam freely, but they are neutered and vaccinated by the government.
When leaders in government formulate good and compassionate laws, the people are led by example. So, would the minister please consider amending the local council by-laws so that neutered street animals will be spared from capture and destruction?
It would make more sense for us to continue getting street animals neutered (using our own funds) if they will not be captured by the councils anymore.
Since 2009, our society has been providing financial aid to neuter street animals (see https://bit.ly/3uHGRYk.) We are not asking for funds, only for a change in the by-laws so that our work will not be futile.
The local councils would also save money as they would not have to pay for the services of private dog catchers or maintenance of animal pounds and etc.
There are already communities of street animal feeders, rescuers and protectors who do this work. A change in the by-laws would further empower them to carry out their work more diligently. It might even encourage more people to participate in this programme. The end result would be the fostering of a caring society, which will augur well for our country.
DR CHAN KAH YEIN
AnimalCare Society Petaling Selangor
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