THE Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) plans to enlist volunteers to capture and euthanise stray dogs in Setia Alam, offering a reward of RM30 per dog caught.
However, PAWS Animal Welfare Society urges reconsideration, advocating for a grace period for owners to claim their dogs and promoting a trap-neuter-release programme instead.
MBSA justifies the operation due to public complaints about stray dogs causing disturbances.
PAWS Animal Welfare Society manager Lim Choon Sun said there should be a grace period for people to claim their dogs. He urged the council not to kill the dogs that were caught.
“Why is MBSA taking such a drastic move and catching strays without a chance for them to be bailed out?” a local portal quoted Lim as saying.
“If someone’s dog is caught after it runs out of their house, the owners cannot do anything to save them,” he added, emphasising MBSA should implement a more humane method to reduce the stray dog population.
He also said the trap-neuter-release programme has been proven effective worldwide.
A notice of operation stated that the city council (MBSA) aims to capture 500 stray dogs, and has proposed rewarding volunteers with RM30 for each dog caught during the exercise from April 22-24.
MBSA is collaborating with local residents for the operation, and the notice said community leaders are required to find eight volunteers to assist in the exercise.
Dogs that are caught cannot be claimed and will be brought to the MBSA animal shelter to be euthanised. – March 30, 2024
Main photo credit: PledgeCare
