MBPJ, Paws introduce new regulations to reduce strays

The regulations will take effect on Jan 1 and includes, among others, neutering and vaccination.

Paws Animal Welfare Society shelter.

PETALING JAYA: As a result of a joint effort between the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Paws Animal Welfare Society, a new set of regulations to handle strays has been introduced and will take effect on Jan 1.

Paws shelter manager Edward Lim said with the new regulations, those who wanted to claim the dogs or cats that were sent to the pound would have to vaccinate, neuter and place a microchip in the animal.

“Once these processes are done, they will have to apply for a licence before they can claim the dog or cat,” he said at a press conference.

Prior to the introduction of these regulations, strays caught by the city council were sent to the pound which struggled with overcrowding and resulted in culling.

Both the city council and Paws had in the past received criticism for their seemingly inhumane act of putting the strays down, said Lim.

“We don’t want to cull any of the animals sent here if we can help it, but when the shelter overcrowds, that is something we have to do as a last resort.

“Even so, we cull according to the animal’s condition (old age, illness, and serious wounds).

Lim said that it was not compulsory for owners to neuter their pets but feeders and rescuers must ensure the animals under their care were neutered.

“Paws will assist feeders and rescuers to locate clinics for neutering and vaccination and boarding services if they don’t have a place to house the strays,” said Lim.

(From left) Paws shelter manager Edward Lim, MBPJ councillor Sean Oon Chong Ling and MBPJ health inspector Ryan Solomon.

Lim said the programme would help reduce the stray population which had been a long-standing problem.

“It isn’t the animals’ fault, but the mindset of our society. In the end, the animals will suffer.

“This programme will help educate the public, so that they too can play a part in reducing strays.

“Strays become a problem if they are carriers of diseases, such as distemper and parvovirus, but does the public understand this?

“How do strays exist? Part of the problem are owners who don’t pay enough attention to their pets.

“When their pets roam around, some get lost and become strays. Be responsible for your own pet,” he said.

Walk the talk

Lim also urged feeders to work with the city council and state authorities if they were serious in containing the stray problem.

“We have tried engaging with them on the next course of action after the neutering process but the feeders don’t seem to be interested.

“But they criticise the NGOs (non-governmental organisations) as inhumane for culling the strays.

“Don’t just talk. If you really want to help, do something.

“Come and talk to us so we can discuss on what we can do after neutering to prevent dogs and cats going back on the streets,” said Lim.

Lim said Paws hoped to also work with the Shah Alam city council to tackle the stray problems in the city.

Meanwhile, MBPJ councillor, Sean Oon Chong Ling said the aim of the programme was to avoid putting down the strays.

“Our aim has never been to put down the strays and with the neutering programme that started in March by the Selangor state government, there has been a decrease in the number of strays.

“Last year we caught 800 stray dogs, and this year the number has dropped to 600.

“This has proven that neutering is the way to go,” said Oon.

He said by making microchips compulsory, lost dogs would not end up in pounds unidentified or abandoned.

“With the microchip, we can locate the dog or cat’s owner and in return, we can also keep a data of the dog and cat population,” he said.

Oon said it was important for the public to take this matter seriously, especially when dealing with dogs.

“Stray dogs move around in packs, so they tend to be more aggressive, unlike cats which are more solitary.

“Our main objective is to reduce strays, not to harm them. The public has always looked at us and assumed that all dogs caught were put to sleep.

“We want to change that and we want the public to support us in moving towards a stray-free society,” he said.

Oon reminds feeders who are interested in the programme that they could get subsidies under the Selangor Neutering Subsidy (Sens) allocation.

“The state government has allocated RM150,000 to subsidise neutering of animals.

“The new programme that we are announcing today can also qualify for this subsidy,” he said.

Sens is funded by the Selangor state government to assist in reducing the number of stray cats and dogs.

It is a pilot project with a fixed fund managed by Paws. -FMT

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