By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, April 1 — Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin has called on the state’s local authorities to review the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in catching stray dogs and instead opt for a more humane and holistic approach to the problem.
This is after the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) announced plans to ‘catch and kill’ stray canines in Setia Alam later this month.
Her Royal Highness said she has always opposed the approach taken by many local authorities nationwide.
“I feel saddened and disappointed to hear the latest developments regarding operations to capture stray dogs in Selangor.
“I have repeatedly emphasised my strong disagreement with the ‘catch and kill’ approach taken by any local authority, including the recent viral report involving MBSA. I firmly believe that many other methods can be employed to address this issue, including neutering.
“As the Royal Patron of the Stray Free Selangor campaign under the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor, I urge the local councils to consider a more holistic approach to managing these canines,” Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin said in a statement issued by the Selangor Royal Office today.
Her Royal Highness said local councils could instead adopt animal birth control or “trap-neuter-release” initiative, where dogs within a community or district are sterilised and then released back to their territories, resulting in a population decline.
Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin also proposed reviewing a circular issued by the Local Government and Housing Ministry in 2014, which outlines the SOPs for capturing and disposing of stray dogs to be more relevant to the current best practices.
The current circular requires captured stray dogs to be kept for two days, while licensed dogs must be held for seven days before the animals are culled by injection.
Separately, Her Royal Highness suggested the local authorities establish shelters for stray animals in every residential area with the cooperation of residents and make it mandatory for housing developers to build or provide these shelters for future projects.
“I truly hope that efforts to safeguard the welfare of these stray animals will continue and not just be a passing concern,” said Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin.
Recently, in a memo, MBSA’s Environmental Health Department announced that it is setting up a task force to carry out an operation in collaboration with residents’ representatives to capture some 500 stray dogs in Setia Alam, with RM30 being rewarded for each canine captured.
It added that the captured dogs cannot be claimed and will instead be disposed of via “established” procedures.
However, The Star later quoted MBSA councillor Simon Siow as clarifying that the council intends to capture the dogs and hand them over to animal welfare organisations rather than resorting to culling following public outcry.
