IN response to Baljit Singh Gill’s letter commenting on our patron Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye’s advocacy on animal welfare (NST, July 1), I would like to mention that the road towards a strays-free Malaysia is the responsibility of federal and state governments, which have the resources and legislative backing.
The chief stakeholders in this regard are the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) under the Agriculture Ministry, the local authorities and animal welfare organisations providing groundwork and education services.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor expounds a three-pronged approach of effective legislation (towards irresponsible owners), high-volume, low-cost spay/neuter clinics (Klinik Kembiri), and education on responsible pet ownership. Since its inception in 2003, Klinik Kemberi has spayed/neutered over 30,000 dogs and cats, preventing thousands of unwanted births.
SPCA Selangor has written to municipal councils to change the current practice of strays control from Catch And Kill to Trap, Neuter, Release And Manage (TNRM), and to empower communities to help reduce their own strays population.
The pitfalls of Catch and Kill is that new strays eventually populate the area cleared and continue breeding, does not teach people to be responsible for their animals and does not create caring communities.
The benefits of TNRM is cheaper in the mid- and long-term, is more socially acceptable, more humane and sustainable, residents become aware of being responsible pet owners, and will create unity and harmony within caring communities.
Our letters also specify the roles and responsibilities of municipal councils, among which are the provision of funding projects under their jurisdiction, and to work in cooperation with the SPCA and the community.
From the DVS, we need the provision of resources and logistics to facilitate comprehensive Klinik Kembiri services.
SPCA Selangor will contact, investigate and establish the needs and requirements of the community; identify an action plan based on strays population hot spots; provide safe strays operational guidelines; and provide long-term support services to maintain safe strays communities.
It will also assist in providing best practice strays management; establish designated feeding areas; neuter and ear notch stray animals; and enforce responsible pet ownership principles.
Selangor SPCA urges all Malaysians to help deliver a strays-free Malaysia to our children.
Christine Chin, Chairman, SPCA Selangor