Ipoh needs a strays solution

IPOH, which is gaining popularity after being nominated one of the leading tourist destinations, is gradually turning into a city full of abandoned pets and strays.

In the last few years the stray population of cats and dogs has increased many fold. The situation is made worse with the increase in numbers of pets, especially dogs abandoned by heartless and irresponsible owners.

In recent months several people have related to me horrifying stories of how stray dogs and cats have been poisoned and brutally killed by individuals and residents in many parts of the city.

These gory and senseless killings have also been circulating on social media.

Many residents are of the view that these acts of cruelty apprently are taking place due to the failure or inability of the local authorities to manage or handle the rising stray population.

Animal welfare organisations like the ISPCA are declining to take in any stray pets from the public because their facilities are said to be full to the brim.

I understand that these animal welfare homes are also facing serious financial constraints in managing the animals under their care.

As an ardent animal lover, I wish to take this opportunity to appeal to all animal lovers in Ipoh to focus on the primary objective that is the welfare of the sick and unwanted animals in our environment.

I also wish to highlight the negative implications of the “No Kill” policy of strays that some animal welfare organisations are advocating.

How are we going to solve the population explosion of stray dogs and cats in our environment?

As it is, all our animal welfare shelters are full and the “neuter and release” method is not sufficiently effective in controlling the ever increasing stray population.

We need to be pragmative and ought to look at humane and internationally accepted ways to reduce the stray population under these situations.

Every day, scores of abandoned and stray animals are brought into animal shelters, far out numbering the ability of good homes to take them in.

The “neuter and release” is one welfare orientated move that should be given high priority. Finding homes for needy cats and dogs is gratifying but it is like bailing out a sinking ship with a teaspoon according to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

The boat will still go down unless we fix the gaping hole in the bottom. Finding a home for a dog or cat may save a life but sterilising one dog or cat will save hundreds if not thousands of lives by preventing generations of potentially homeless kittens and puppies from being born.

Depending solely on animal welfare organisations like the SPCAs to carry out this “neuter and release method” in the country is not going to be effective for the obvious reasons of lack of funds and resources.

The local authorities, including distric councils should play a major role in this stray management method.

The Ipoh city council should carry out free neuter and spaying campaigns periodically and this should be extended to all the districts in Perak. The local authorities can seek the support and cooperation of the local animal welfare organisations to assist in the campaign.

This campaign can be done effectively with a well equiped and manned Mobile Neuter Units.

The local authorities cannot continue to ignore the ever increasing stray population and their associated social and health issues.

In the meanwhile, animal welfare organisations should realise that the No Kill policy has some deadly consequences when a stray population has reached unmanageble proportions.

This appalling situation apparently only exposes the poor creatures to worse conditions rather than a peaceful death through euthanasia.

The No Kill policy has its limitations and PETA has called upon animal lovers around the globe to also take into consideration the unimaginable consequences animals may have to endure due to the No Kill Policy.

Our local councils should consider introducing a “spay-neuter law” for all pet owners which will check the potential birth of unwanted puppies and kittens in the event an animal for some reason or other escapes or is abandoned.

The rise in illegal pet breeders in the country is also a contributing factor to the increase of abandoned animals in the community.

The authorities need to check on this menace and find ways to discourage pet shops from trading in puppies and kittens. Illegal breeders are suspected to be the main source of animals for pet shops.

Campaigns to educate the public on pet ownership responsibilities and the consequences and implications of abandoning pets should be highlghted frequently. Micro chipping of pets must be made mandatory. The authorities should consider making it mandatory for puppies and kittens sold in pet shops to have microchips inserted upon purchase.