LETTERS: The recent tragic death of Kopi, a stray dog in Kuala Terengganu, has left many Malaysians heartbroken and outraged. Known for her gentle nature and viral videos playing with stray kittens, Kopi was shot during a city council stray culling operation.
This act of violence has sparked widespread condemnation, highlighting the urgent need for more humane and sustainable solutions to manage stray animal populations in Malaysia.
Shooting stray animals as part of culling operations is not only a brutal approach but an ineffective one. It reflects a lack of compassion and disregard for the lives of animals like Kopi, who were beloved members of their community.
The method employed by the city council has ignited national outrage, with many animal welfare advocates calling for justice for Kopi and accountability from those responsible.
This incident isn't isolated. There have been multiple cases of strays being inhumanely killed, which points to a deeper issue in how local councils manage stray populations.
Public outcry, including an online petition that has already gathered thousands of signatures, emphasizes that such acts of cruelty must stop. Kopi's death should serve as a wake-up call for authorities to rethink their approach to stray management.
The solution to managing stray populations does not lie in violence, but in the implementation of sustainable and humane practices, such as Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage (TNRM).
TNRM is a proven method where stray animals are trapped, neutered, and released back into their environment, allowing the population to naturally decline over time as reproduction is curbed.
Why TNRM Works:
1. Population Control: TNRM directly addresses the root cause of stray overpopulation—uncontrolled breeding. By neutering stray animals, future litters are prevented, which gradually reduces the number of animals on the streets.
2. Healthier Strays: Neutered animals are generally healthier and less aggressive. TNRM also allows for vaccinations during the process, reducing the spread of diseases among stray animals and the wider community.
3. Community Engagement: Local communities can play an active role in monitoring and caring for neutered strays. Programs can foster a sense of responsibility and compassion, shifting the narrative from eradication to coexistence.
4. Cost-Effective: In the long run, TNRM is more cost-effective than culling. Killing stray animals is a short-term fix that does not address the root issue of overpopulation, meaning councils will have to continually repeat the process. TNRM, however, leads to a gradual, long-term reduction in stray populations.
A successful TNRM programme requires public awareness and support from local governments. It is crucial to educate the public on the benefits of TNRM and debunk myths that killing strays is the only viable solution. Campaigns should also promote responsible pet ownership, encouraging people to spay and neuter their pets to prevent abandonment and stray issues.
Government policies must align with humane stray management practices. Local councils should be encouraged, or even mandated, to adopt TNRM as their primary method of managing strays.
Providing incentives for neutering pets, offering veterinary support for TNRM programmes, and ensuring long-term community-based management of stray populations are essential steps in the right direction.
The tragic fate of Kopi has brought the cruelty of current stray management practices to the forefront of public consciousness.
It is time for local authorities and communities to come together to implement a sustainable, humane, and effective solution. TNRM offers a way forward—a future where strays are no longer subjected to brutal culling but are instead managed in a compassionate way that benefits both animals and people.
Kopi's story should serve as a catalyst for change. No stray should have to suffer such a fate again. It's time to adopt TNRM and create a future where humans and animals can coexist peacefully.
By advocating for TNRM, we not only honour Kopi's memory but also move towards a kinder, more compassionate society for all living beings.
TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE
Animal welfare advocate
Kuala Lumpur