SUBANG JAYA: Around 50 animal lovers gathered at the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) car park today to protest over hundreds of stray dogs that they claimed were suffering from crammed pounds.
Former Subang Jaya municipal councillor Michael Tamil, who led the peaceful demonstration, revealed disturbing details about the facility's operations.
"They are cramming 300 dogs into a space meant for just 100. These animals are living in absolutely deplorable conditions," he said.
The protesters' main concern centred on the council's controversial use of commission-based foreign workers to capture stray dogs.
"These untrained workers are ruthlessly rounding up as many animals as possible for profit. They are not responding to complaints but merely hunting for commission," Michael said.
An animal activist, who only wished to be identified as Deviga, shared that residents had paid to have the animals neutered, only to discover that they were being recaptured and killed instead.
Her concern underscored the betrayal felt by local animal welfare groups who have repeatedly offered their expertise and assistance in resolving the issue.
Michael later handed over a memorandum to MBSJ's Enforcement Department director Muhammad Zaki Yusoff, demanding an immediate halt to using unlicensed foreign workers in rounding up the strays.
He also urged the authorities to ensure strict adherence to animal handling protocols, work in partnership with local animal welfare non-governmental organisations and to conduct independent audits of pound facilities.
"Several NGOs are willing to help with neutering and rehoming the stray dogs. The council's current approach is not just ineffective, it's inhumane," he added.
Michael said MBSJ lacked the legal authority to euthanise the strays unless they were diseased or deemed too aggressive.
The demonstrators plan to lodge police reports and hold larger protests if the authorities fail to take immediate action.