Cheaper veterinary services, education will bolster new by-law, says Zero Strays
MIRI: The consolidation of dog licence by-laws in the state into a single law by the Sarawak government is commendable, but one that needs to be complemented with other measures.
Zero Strays Miri ( ZSM) president Sterwina Kho told The Borneo Post that the government should also look into setting up a veterinary clinic that offers cheaper neutering and vaccination services, as well as to educate the people to be more responsible in taking care of their pets.
“Educating the pet owner is crucial as it ( lack of knowledge) is one of the contributing factors for the rising stray population in this country.
“There are irresponsible owners who abandon their pets on the streets, or who allow their pets to roam freely outside their house compound. When this happens and the pet is not neutered, it could result in them ( pets) producing more offspring,” she said, adding that when this happens, the cycle would never end as the resulting puppies would either be given away or abandoned.
Kho was commenting on the new Local Authorities (Dog Licensing and Control) By-Laws 2018 which was tabled and approved by the Sarawak Cabinet on Oct 18, and would come into force effective Dec 1 this year.
She opined that restricting the number of dogs per household, combined with compulsory neutering and vaccination, would enable the owner to properly care for each pet.
However, she cautioned that the new by-law could also deter potential volunteers from providing temporary homes for stray dogs rescued by ZSM.
“Most of these foster homes already have one or two pet dogs. The by-law could scare off the foster ‘parents’, and the ‘victims’ of this situation are the innocent animals.
“We have had hundreds of stray animals neutered, vaccinated and released back into their original place under our TNR (trapneuterprogramme, and many good people help to feed the strays from time to time.”
She also hoped the government would seriously enforce the law on animal abandonment to avoid the current situation from becoming more serious.
Meanwhile, pet owner Katherine Soo wants the local city council to work closely with non-governmental organisations ( NGOs) in reducing the stray animal population and educating owners on the ‘requirements’ of owning a pet.
“I have more than three dogs at home and they are all well- cared, vaccinated, neutered and wellfed, as I know how many dogs I am capable of caring for.
“Most of my dogs are adopted strays and giving them a permanent home is the greatest satisfaction I’ve ever had.”
Soo said she understands that the government’s aim of restricting the number of dogs per household is one way to educate pet owners, but pointed out that it needs to be complemented with a public veterinary clinic that provides cheaper services.
“I’m pretty sure that with such a facility, pet owners are more than willing to provide the best quality of life for their pets,” she said, adding the council also needs to impose heavier penalties on those who abandon their pets as a way of educating them to be more responsible and committed.
Agnes Wong, another pet owner who is also a ZSM foster parent, said she is worried that the new by-law would deter others from taking in rescued strays, thus resulting in the presence of more strays on the streets.