IPOH, nominated as one of the leading tourist destinations in the world, has gained notoriety as a city of abandoned pets and strays.
In the past couple of years, the stray population of cats and dogs in the city has increased manifold. For some reason, pet owners are abandoning their pets.
There are horrifying stories of stray dogs and cats being poisoned and killed by residents.
These killings have been circulating on social media, but the Ipoh City Council has kept quiet despite complaints.
Many residents feel that these acts of cruelty are due to the failure of local authorities to manage the stray population.
Animal welfare organisations in the city are at loggerheads with each other and it is affecting the confidence and trust of the public.
The feud between two animal welfare organisations has made the situation worse.
Animal welfare organisations like the Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have declined to take in stray pets because their facilities are full.
I understand that these animal welfare homes are also facing financial constraints.
With their reputation tainted due to allegation of sorts, I wonder how they are going to convince the public to support them with donations.
As an animal lover, I appeal to animal lovers in Ipoh, especially those who head these organisations, to put aside their differences and focus on the welfare of sick and
unwanted animals.
Once we get our act together, the public will help us in this endeavour.
There is no need to throw one’s weight around.
I wish to highlight the negative implications of the no-kill policy of strays that animal welfare organisations are advocating.
If so, how are we going to solve the population explosion of stray dogs and cats?
As it is, all our animal welfare shelters are full and the neuter- and-release method is not effective in controlling the stray population.
We need to be pragmatic and look at humane and internationally accepted ways to reduce the stray population.
Animal shelters that depend on donations cannot afford to sustain themselves due to the increase in operating costs and veterinary care of animals.
Every day, scores of abandoned and stray animals are brought to animal shelters, outnumbering the homes available to take them in.
Instead of solving the problem at the source, that is, the runaway animal birth rate, we are pressured to focus on the symptoms. The neuter-and-release way is one welfare-oriented move that should be given priority.
Finding homes for 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 at 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 homeless kittens and puppies from being born.
Depending on animal welfare organisations like SPCA to carry out the neuter-and-release method is not going to be effective due to a lack of funds and resources.
The local authorities, including district councils, should play a major role in this neuter-and-release stray method.
Animal welfare organisations should realise that the no-kill policy has deadly consequences when the stray population reaches unmanageable proportions.
It is appalling to stick to the policy before establishing an effective and sufficient neutering-and-spaying service and the inability to overcome the breeding and selling of animals.
The situation exposes the poor creatures to worse conditions.
The no-kill policy has its limitations and Peta has called on animal lovers to take into consideration the consequences animals may have to endure due to the policy.
S. PARAM,
Ipoh, Perak