Good greetings to all!

STRAY ANIMALS AND TNR (Trap, Neuter and Release/Return)

Lately, we hear of so many interviews/forums being conducted and highlighted on the subject of strays and TNR(Trap Neuter Return/Release). First of all, why are there so many strays? It’s because we do not have a good system in the government machinery. We have bye-laws but it does not protect strays. Education and Legislation is of utmost importance. Keeping pets at home has been part of our lives. It may not necessarily be dogs/cats. Kindness towards animals can be inculcated and should start in school by educating the young to be kind towards animals

Strays start from home!

1) People who keep because they want a pet but not knowing their responsibilities,

2) you have those wanting only to have watchdogs and when it does not serve their purpose anymore, this is where abandonment starts,

3) social feeders who mean well in feeding the animals, but not aware of the multiplication of strays in the area and cause unhappiness within the community.

Thus, animal NGOs are taxed when such happens.

It is draining on NGOs and independent rescuers. We keep rescuing them and caring for them, trying to rehome but homes are not easy to come by especially for adult ones. Just visit the many NGOs and one will notice the hundreds of animals under their care. NGOs are in dire need of support by way of donations and/or volunteers to come by and help whenever they can. If only pet owners are responsible enough for their pets, animal NGOs would not exist.

Not all animal shelters are properly managed as the welfare of animals are not taken at heart. They mean well by rescuing, but may not have animal welfare in mind. We hear of complaints where animals are left to die. They fight as there are too many kept in enclosures. Some inflicted with disease/virus and died just because they allow nature to take its cause as it has a so called `no kill’ policy. Due to limited resources and in fact, these shelters don’t realize that they are actually inflicting cruelty on animals.

To avoid all these problems, there should be good governance and legislation.

1. All councils in the country should have uniform dog bye-laws

2. Make it mandatory for dogs to be neutered and perhaps give free licensing for neutered dogs

3. Pet owners who are not willing to neuter should be curbed by limiting the number of dogs per household and perhaps impose a higher licensing fee for each dog owned

4. Pet owners should be allowed to keep a minimum nunber of dogs depending on their home & lifestyle. Beyond that a higher licensing fee be imposed should they want to keep more (depending on the size of compound) and mandatory to neuter to avoid overpopulation

5. Provide good guidelines for issuance of a trade license to pet shop owners. Pet shop owners should not only think of making money through sale of pets. They should help encourage their stake holders to know their responsibilities involved when buying a pet. Banning them from selling pets is not an answer as there are still many who would prefer to look for young breed puppies. Shelters are mostly filled with adult dogs when owners are not able to manage them anymore. That’s how surrendering and abandonment occurs and filling up all shelters. No one will abandon breed puppies at a start!

6. Make micro-chipping compulsory for all domesticated cats and dogs in the country and there should be a central data base system for tracking of lost or abandoned animals

7. Make it mandatory for local council pounds to hold lost and abandonment of strays for at least 7 days before releasing them for adoption or disposal to NGOs willing to accept them

8. Provide proper training techniques for Council dog handlers when dealing with complaints on strays

9. Perhaps, the Education Ministry should take the initiative to introduce a subject on Kindness to Animals and/or allow schools to form animal kindness leagues/clubs.

We may not see results overnight but at least we start to see something to show that Malaysians care for animals. As quoted by Mahatma Gandhi `The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.’

To do TNR (Trap, Neuter and Release), all Majlis should work together with animal NGOs and rescuers existing in their own state. Fees derived from licensing of dogs should go towards helping NGOs with their TNR Project.

To be progressive; the government should at least, offer or provide land perhaps to a consortium of NGOs to build a good sanctuary for animals in their own state. TNR animals can be released in the sanctuary to let them live a better and full life especially those that are a threat to the public. Releasing them in public areas may not be appropriate as not everyone is happy to see stray animals on the streets even though there are those who are flexible and don’t mind them released within the community.

TNR project can only be successful if there are at least 80-90 % of the animal population neutered.

How can we achieve success in creating a `stray free’ Malaysia when we do not nip the problem in the bud, that is owner-owned pets!!

Abandonment is a crime!

Jerry was brought in from Batu Gantong area. He was seen being attacked by strays in the area. Two good Samaritans brought him in on August 10:

When brought in:

Jerry after his first shave:

On August 29 we gave him another quick shave:

And here he is now:

Another dog came in on August 30. He was found lost/abandoned four weeks ago at Tingkat Batu Uban 1. We have helped post on our social media sites but until now no one has claimed him.

This female mini pinscher has also been dumped outside our gate on a Saturday night. Fortunately, it was not a rainy night otherwise this poor dog would have been soaking wet the next morning.

If only these three dogs were microchipped, perhaps their irresponsible owners could be traced and penalized!