Recently, the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) announced a task force to capture stray dogs due to an alleged 445 complaints of disturbances from their community members since January of this year.
The task force will consist of 8 volunteers from each Shah Alam Residents Representative Council (MPP), where volunteers will receive RM30 for each stray dog captured from April 22 to April 24, 8pm to 11pm. They are estimating the capture of 500 stray dogs.
And while they’ve also guaranteed the alleged welfare of the strays captured, Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, has since expressed Her Highness’s disagreement with the formation of such a task force.
In a statement, the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page shared on behalf of Her Highness, “I am saddened and disappointed to hear the latest developments regarding the operation to capture stray dogs in the state of Selangor in particular. I have emphasised many times that I strongly disagree with the ‘capture and kill’ approach to be carried out by any local authority (PBT) including the one involving the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA).”
“I believe there are many other methods that can be used to curb this problem including neutering. As the Royal Patron of the Stray Free Selangor (SFS) campaign under the Selangor SPCA, I want PBTs to detail a new, more holistic approach to managing these stray dogs.”
Her Highness highlighted her constant suggestions to help reduce number of stray dogs, such as but not limited to the creation of animal shelters for each housing area with the cooperation of animal loving residents, the authorities obligating housing developers to build and provide similar shelters, sterilizing and neutering programmes and more.
Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin also hopes that the authorities will re-examine the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the capturing and disposal of stray dogs by local councils.
“I really hope that the efforts to take care of the welfare of these stray animals will continue and not just become an abandoned task,” Her Highness added.
We too genuinely hope that MBSA will reconsider their ‘task force’ approach and find more humane ways in dealing with the issue at hand.
What do you think about this? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.
Also read: Selangor Queen Orders Local Authorities To Improve Management Of Animal Confinement Centers
