THE country is facing a serious stray dog overpopulation problem, one that experts and activists say has escalated into a national issue requiring immediate action by the Federal Government.

Animal welfare groups are sounding the alarm as the problem is straining their resources and raising serious ethical and animal welfare concerns.

Social activist S. Shashi Kumar said the crisis reflected not only a breakdown in animal welfare policy but also a deeper failure of governance.

“This is no longer just a local authority issue, but a national crisis.

“What Malaysia needs is urgent federal intervention and structured collaboration with NGOs (non-governmental organisations), as practised in progressive nations like Singapore,” he said.

Shashi said many local councils were using inhumane and outdated methods of stray population control, drawing criticism for what he described as the normalisation of cruelty under the guise of management.

Yesterday about 200 people gathered outside the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) in Putrajaya, calling for the government to stop the culling of stray dogs.

Shashi presented a memorandum to a PMO representative, calling for a reform of the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 2015 and to look into their proposals for humane methods of managing the stray animal.

Efforts taken by NGOs

Scene from a recent protest outside Wisma Negri against the proposed culling of stray dogs in Negri Sembilan. — Filepic

In April this year, a nationwide coalition of 39 animal welfare organisations submitted three proposals to Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) to address the stray population crisis for both cats and dogs, seeking balance in public safety and comfort, as well as to reform the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) 2015.

The key components in the proposal were to enforce the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return-Manage (TNVRM) programme in a large scale, set up government-run stray animal shelters nationwide and use hybrid approach to address public complaints on stray animal disturbance.

Shashi, who is also Global Human Rights Federation president, said the current methods used by the local councils to manage strays, especially dogs, included culling.

Killing animals, he said, was no longer acceptable in a civilised society.

There is a need to have more compassion, modern governance and sustainable public policies in handling the matter, he added.

Kalaivanan: NGOs should be allowed to bail out dogs for free as they are helping the government solve a problem.

“TNVRM strategy, which involves neutering the dogs and returning them to where they were picked up, can avoid the “vacuum-effect” where removed animals are replaced by new unsterilised ones,” said Shashi.

“Government-operated shelters in every district can provide temporary care and protection for stray animals, serving as a long-term investment in public safety and health, as well as animal education and welfare.”

He said that as some local councils have set up cat shelters, there should also be dog shelters.

“The third suggestion is a hybrid approach in handling strays that are reported as disturbance, specifically dogs.

“Local councils can work with animal welfare NGOs to assess problematic dogs, where the canines posing any risk can be removed from public spaces and sent to a shelter to be rehabilitated, while others in the same pack undergo TNVRM,” he said.

Shashi said the proposals were supported by the 39 organisations.

Most dog shelters in the country, he said, were currently run by individuals or community groups with limited financial means and minimal government support, if any.

According to him, many of these shelters are on the brink of closure and unable to sustain the rising cost for food, medical care, and daily operations.

Shashi describes the overpopulation of stray dogs a national crisis that demands urgent government intervention.

“Thousands of animals depend on these shelters for survival. Without immediate financial intervention, their lives will hang in the balance,” he said.

StarMetro has reached out to the ministry and is awaiting its comments.

Call for free bailout

There is a nationwide movement called Stray Lives Matter, to end the abuse and killing of homeless animals.

A campaign began in October last year, following a public outcry after a female stray dog in Terengganu named Kopi was shot dead by a Besut District Council officer during an animal control operation.

The dog had previously gained Internet fame for a video showing her playing gently with a kitten.

Public outrage escalated into legal action and calls for reform of the country’s animal welfare laws through a full-fledged national movement.

Also speaking on behalf of the coalition is Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia president R. Kalaivanan.

Rajesh: It’s crucial to amend AWA 2015 and remove any powers granted to local authorities to shoot and kill.

In a media statement, he said one of the main barriers to rescuing stray dogs across the country was the bailout fees imposed by local councils, ranging from hundreds to thousands of ringgit per dog.

He said NGOs should be allowed to bail out dogs for free as they were helping the government solve a problem in the community.

“While we are willing to help save the lives of these animals, the burden cannot fall solely on the NGOs and their shelters.

“It should be a shared responsibility between the government, NGOs and shelters.

“The government must take its fair share of responsibility in supporting animal welfare efforts, especially when it comes to financial backing and creating policies that enable NGOs to perform their roles effectively,” he said.

NGOs, he said, must be given sufficient time to find shelters or permanent homes for rescued animals.

“We propose that NGOs be given at least 14 days to find suitable arrangements for each animal, ensuring that every rescued animal has a proper chance for rehabilitation and adoption.

“The overpopulation of stray dogs is caused by the local authorities’ lack of management, and the solution seems to be inhumane methods including reactive culling of the animals,” he noted.

Reform of AWA

Shashi, who is also Selangor Furry Future Association president, is seeking amendments to AWA 2015 and an end to inhumane practices by local authorities in controlling the population of stray animals, especially dogs.

While the Act offered a glimmer of hope in animal welfare, he said it had loopholes that needed to be amended.

AWA 2015 contains 64 sections largely directed at pet owners and individuals who commit acts of cruelty or fail to comply with prescribed regulations, he said.

While the Act emphasises responsible ownership and the prevention of animal cruelty, it lacks provisions that hold local council officers accountable for the inhumane capture or brutal treatment of stray animals, he pointed out.

Vulnerable stray dogs continue to be abused or killed across the country for just wanting to live, he added.

With the increasing number of stray dogs, Shashi said animal rescuers, independent feeders and shelter operators were working tirelessly under immense financial and emotional strain to care for the animals.

“Some stray dogs caught by local council dog catchers risk being mistreated or killed, if not adopted in time.

“Some local councils charge exorbitant fees to release captured dogs.

“This leaves the animal rescuers facing heartbreaking decisions concerning dogs’ lives,” he said.

According to lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan, certain provisions in AWA 2015 are vague, lhence it is used by the authorities in a manner not in line with the original intention.

“It also lacks some provisions needed in this age in line with latest developments.

“Section 30(1) and (2) read together has been construed by the authorities as allowing the shooting and killing of dogs.”

He said that when this Act was proposed in Parliament in 2015, it was clearly stated that there would be no more shooting of dogs.

“Despite this, the authorities are still relying on the Act to shoot and kill stray dogs,” he said.

“The solution to this problem,” Rajesh said, “is in amending the offending provision and removing any powers granted to local authorities to shoot and kill.”

The Veterinary Services Department should be the only authority empowered to put dogs to sleep in humane ways, he said.

“Further, Section 34 of the Act grants powers to animal welfare officers in situations involving animals in distress.

“The Act allows an officer to destroy an animal at their own discretion, without requiring certification or confirmation from a registered veterinary surgeon.

“These are powers involving the lives of animals and ought not be a power that is delegated,” he highlighted.

Rajesh said Section 4 of the Act provided for the establishment of the Animal Welfare Board (AWB), but noted that its membership, which meant to advocate animal welfare, remained limited in scope, such as head of agencies.

“To ensure meaningful representation, the board should entirely comprise members of civil society.

“It is crucial that the AWA 2015 undergo comprehensive reforms to address and correct these shortcomings,” he said.