MBJB to neuter 1,000 stray dogs

JOHOR BARU: The Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) is working with a group of non-governmental organisations to conduct mass neutering programmes to address the issues of stray dogs.

Mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman said the council’s goal was to neuter and vaccinate about 1,000 stray dogs in the city through a series of programmes with the Johor-based Social Heroes Foundation (SHF).

“We have signed a memorandum of understanding with SHF for this project, as part of MBJB’s efforts to handle the issue of stray dogs in a more humane and professional manner.

“The first of such programmes will be held on Oct 29 and 30 to neuter and vaccinate the strays before efforts are carried out to rehome them.

“The project as a whole involves a cost of RM395,000, borne by MBJB, which covers the neutering and vaccination fees, logistics, consultation charges, operational fees as well as for sertu (Islamic cleaning),” Mohd Noorazam told reporters at the MBJB building here yesterday.

He had earlier inked the memorandum with SHF, while the collaboration would also focus on trap, neuter and rehome (TNR) initiatives down the line.

Mohd Noorazam noted that there were many public complaints about stray dogs and allegations against the council about the way it handled the matter in the past, and the collaboration was a step towards improving its management of strays.

As of early September, the council has received 479 complaints about stray dogs, while last year it received 627 complaints, and 703 complaints in the year before, he said.

“When we act on a complaint, it does not just involve one or two dogs. Often, we have to trap up to 20 strays or more depending on the areas.

“This is why our pound in Jalan Tahana, Larkin, is stretched but we are taking steps to improve the situation.

“MBJB is seeking the state government’s help for a long-term solution – where we have identified a site in Seelong, Kulai, which can be rented and fenced up to be used for the TNR programme with SHF,” Mohd Noorazam said, adding that he hoped the land could be used by next year.

He urged the public to be responsible pet owners by neutering and vaccinating animals under their care to prevent irresponsible breeding and diseases.

The mayor also said that stray dogs tend to be found at new housing estates and construction projects.

“We noticed that developers and contractors tend to feed and keep stray dogs during construction and once the projects are completed, they just leave the dogs there to fend for themselves.

“This is when the animals will roam around the streets looking for food and lead to possible attacks on children and utility workers, which have happened before,” he added.

Meanwhile, SHF trustee Thanam Visvanathan-Suresh said the foundation was made up of some 100 non-governmental organisations involved in various causes such as animal welfare, education, social welfare and children’s rights.

She said that neutering animals was not only helpful to manage their population, but it also benefits the health of the animals and prevents diseases including cancers and sexually-transmitted diseases.Previously, The Star highlighted allegations from dog lovers about the inhumane manner in which some councils here are treating the animals, including overcrowding at dog pounds and catching them at night.

They claimed that dog-catching exercises by private contractors have increased significantly as councils try to achieve quotas or manage their key performance indicators, a move that has resulted in the animals being kept in inhumane conditions as well as causing deaths or injuries.

Following that, MBJB refuted allegations that its dog pound in Larkin was overcrowded and the dogs kept there were neglected.

Mohd Noorazam reportedly also stressed that the council did not set any daily target for stray dog capture.