Stray animal management focuses on catching and relocating animals, euthanasia being a last option

Euthanasia, or putting to sleep, is only used as a last resort by local authorities in the management of stray animals, Minister of Housing and Local Government Nga Kor Ming declared today.

Currently, he added, the government uses techniques include catching, claiming, and prioritizing autopsies or sending over stray dogs or cats to NGOs for relocation.

“Euthanasia, sometimes known as put to sleep, is only used in the management of stray animals as a last option. This is done solely for animals that are sick, weak, disruptive, or endanger public safety; they include those with rabies, he stated during the housing and local government ministry winding-up session of the Budget 2025.

Nga remarked All state agencies now handle stray animal problems using the policies for capture and disposal of stray dogs in Local Authority regions.

“The guidelines were first presented in 2014 and revised in 2022. Local authorities within their different administrative districts apply them concurrently with the Dog Licencing By-Laws for enforcement needs.

“These guidelines were developed comprehensively in line with the Animal Welfare Act 2015 under the cooperation of the Department of Veterinary Services, animal welfare NGOs, and representatives of local authorities,” he stated.

Among the strategies for handling stray dogs, Nga also mentioned the Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) methodology used by Penang City Council in association with the NGO International Aid for the Protection and Welfare of Animals (IAPWA) since 2019.

“The TNR approach has recorded the capture of 5,302 dogs by local authorities, which were then released back into public areas without anti-rabies booster vaccinations,” he stated.

According to Nga, each local authority would suffer major financial and human resource consequences should the Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Release (TNVR) approach be adopted; it is not yet accepted as a standard international methodology.

Adoption of the TNVR approach will cause the number of stray animals to rise rather than to drop, therefore compromising public order, safety, and well-being.

“To date, this issue continues to cause disruptions in the community, including property damage, road accidents, faecal littering on roads and sidewalks, as well as cases of bites, injuries, and the risk of spreading rabies,” he stated.

He said that 2,721 reports about stray dogs in 2023—more especially, in Sarawak—had 15,831 dog bite instances and 109 rabies cases.

With 12,529 dog bite cases and five rabies cases, 1,027 complaints regarding stray dogs had been received as of August 2024.

“This decline in statistics is a result of proactive actions by local authorities working with the Department of Veterinary Services, which carried out 2,386 operations to gather and dispose of stray dogs and cats all year long,” he said.

Nga reminded them that should the ministry get reports of any party deviating from these policies, it will look into the problem and act, including applying disciplinary policies.

“We have quite explicit policies and the Animal Welfare Act. Any local government non-compliant will be subject to inquiries and legal action based on current legislation. That is evident.

“For individuals who keep animals carelessly, I advise them; if they are unable to take care of these creatures, then do not take them in only to discard later. He said, appealing to everyone to make sure this doesn’t recur.