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Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
City council under fire as protest erupts over stray dog culling in Ipoh
IPOH, July 23 — Approximately 100 members from various animal rights groups gathered today to protest the Ipoh City Council's policy of euthanising stray dogs. The group staged a protest outside the council's enforcement department office, voicing outrage over the recent euthanasia and burial of several dogs at a pound in Lahat, which they claim was done inhumanely and in violation of previous agreements. Jesse Morrias, president of Persatuan Pencinta Anjing Jalanan Ipoh Perak, said the NGOs were not informed about the council's decision to implement the 'put to sleep' (PTS) policy. 'When the council introduced this PTS policy, they should have informed all the NGOs. They claimed to have sent letters, but that's not true,' she told reporters. 'If we had known, there wouldn't be such a viral public outcry. Only after the video went viral did they hold a meeting — and most NGOs weren't even invited.' Jesse also questioned the necessity of the policy, pointing out that the city council had previously agreed with NGOs to carry out a Trap-Neuter-Release and Manage (TNRM) programme, under which neutered stray dogs were released and managed, not euthanised. 'Some of the dogs shown in the video with cropped ears were part of the TNRM programme. This is not the way to handle things. The programme was funded by public donations. 'Killing these dogs defeats the purpose of TNRM and wastes public resources,' she said. Ricky Soong, the president of the Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), urged the authorities to be transparent about their procedures for euthanising strays. 'We haven't been given any clear explanation — why the dogs were caught, or why they were euthanised. That's why we are here today: to demand answers,' he said. Soong also disputed the city council's claim that no one came forward to claim the captured dogs, saying that some NGO members who visited the enforcement department were told the dogs had already been sent to the Papan landfill. He added that the state government should allocate land for NGOs to continue the TNRM programme, as many shelters are currently operating beyond capacity. During the protest, Perak MCA information chief Chung Kuk Heung announced that the party had submitted a memorandum signed by over 100 individuals to the Ipoh Mayor and Perak Menteri Besar. The memorandum, supported by several NGOs, calls for a full, independent investigation into the incident, disciplinary action against any responsible parties, and full disclosure and auditing of the council's SOPs for managing strays. This protest came after a press conference earlier today where the council's enforcement and safety director, Ahmad Zaiyadi Sudin, denied claims that the dogs were buried alive. He insisted that the euthanasia was carried out in accordance with SOP after a mandatory three-day holding period for dogs caught following public complaints.
The Star
21-06-2025
- Health
- The Star
Ipoh SPCA protests govt circular rejecting long-standing TNRM initiatives to manage strays
IPOH: The Ipoh branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) urges the government to reconsider its decision to reject the long-standing Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage (TNRM) programme to curb the population of stray dogs. 'Without more proactive government involvement, it will be difficult to resolve the stray animal issue,' said ISPCA president Ricky Soong, calling on the government to work more collaboratively with civil society stakeholders. Soong said the letter issued early this month by the Housing and Local Government Ministry labels stray animals as sources of environmental pollution and disease transmission vectors, as well as dismissing TNRM as ineffective. Soong said the directive has sparked concern among non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that have worked for years to manage the stray animal population through the neutering and tracking system. 'This single letter puts a decade of hard work at risk. 'In the letter it clearly states that the government rejects TNRM, and upholds the 'No Stray Policy' by hoping to improve the 'Trap-Reclaim-Adopt-Dispose' approach in order to balance animal welfare and public safety,' he said, adding that ISPCA has been at the forefront of TNRM initiatives. Soong said between 2017 and 2023, ISPCA collaborated with 20 veterinarians to neuter over 10,000 stray dogs in Ipoh, a move that significantly curbed population growth in key urban areas. 'TNRM works by stabilising the stray population in specific territories. 'Once neutered, these dogs stop reproducing, and our volunteers can continue monitoring them. It creates a sustainable cycle. 'Malaysia's model is similar to efforts taken in countries such as Turkey and Thailand, where TNRM is internationally recognised as a humane and effective method of stray animal control. 'The programme often includes microchipping, allowing for better tracking of both animals and owners,' he added. Soong said the real problem is abandonment, and if microchipping were made mandatory, owners could be traced and held accountable. 'That's how you solve the root cause. Soong said that with shelters facing overcrowding and dwindling resources, they fear that removing TNRM from the equation could lead to a rise in culling. He questioned the government's so-called 'No Stray Policy,' asking whether it meant genuine humane solutions or simply mass culling and forced displacement. 'Do these animals not deserve a second chance. The least we can do is allow them the dignity to live,' he said.
