Adopt a more humane approach for strays, Lee urges councils

PETALING JAYA: Local authorities need to take a more humane approach in dealing with stray animals, says animal activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

Lee, who is the patron for the Selangor Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), said euthanasia should be avoided if it is possible to save the animals.

“One way is to work with the respective animal NGOs in their areas, and to get the Veterinary Services Department’s help in treating these strays,” Lee said.

He was commenting on the action by Seremban Municipal Council workers who openly put to sleep stray dogs caught in Bandar Warisan Puteri several days ago.

Pictures of the canines being euthanised went viral, drawing flak from many quarters.

The council and the department have since apologised for the incident and pledged to review the procedures in rounding up stray animals.

Citing examples in Selangor, Lee said NGOs such as SPCA would work with the local authorities to promote more effective, cost-efficient and humane approaches in dealing with stray problems.

“The trap-neuter-release method is something that has been talked about for some time, and this approach in Selangor is working out well with cooperation from local authorities,” said Lee.

“Pet owners also need to be more responsible, and there may be a need for the government to start thinking about setting penalties on people who abandon their pets.”

He said SPCA was proposing to come up with a working paper to consider steps on achieving a “strayfree” Malaysia humanely.