Currently, the lack of effective population control measures for stray animals (including lost and abandoned pets) has led to a never-ending problem in population, resulting in the existing solution of culling, which is both inhumane and ineffective because the problem is not nipped in the bud.

In certain states, the Municipal Council is spending money to engage contractors to capture stray dogs in an inhumane way, violating the Animal Welfare Act 2015:

• Running the dogs over to kill them
• Capturing dogs on the streets even if they were owned pets and registered. The Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) Malaysia refuses to release captured dogs even when owners with registration paper came forward to claim the dogs.
• Locking them up and subjecting them to a slow death by starvation

We urgently need a more compassionate and sustainable approach. This is why I am advocating for the nation-wide implementation and funding of a Trap, Neuter, and Return (TnR) program and mandating/encouraging a sterilization program for pet owners. This approach has proven successful in numerous communities worldwide, reducing stray animal populations humanely while allowing them to continue living in their natural habitats.

It is imperative that we impose stricter laws to hold irresponsible pet owners and backyard breeders accountable for neglect and abandonment. Without neutering or spaying their pets, these irresponsible people either allow their cats or dogs to roam or abandon them when the responsibility becomes overwhelmed, or the animals are no longer useful. Often, these individuals continue their inconsiderate practices without any repercussions, directly contributing to the overpopulation crisis. By implementing strict penalties, we can deter such behaviors, protect these vulnerable animals and curb this social and humanitarian crisis.

Also, there should be a law to protect these vulnerable animals against animal abusers. The government should not look at this lightly as an animal welfare issue. This is the tip of an iceberg. If these abusers are not handled in a lawful manner and stopped them in their track, what’s going to happen when they are bored with animals and their guts and appetite got bigger?

As a rescuer, I have witnessed first-hand the heart-wrenching reality of stray cats and dogs ending up in overcrowded shelters. Despite our best efforts to provide them with love and care, these animals often find themselves confined to cages and pens, with little hope for a quality life. The burden on rescuers is immense, and without governmental support, our struggle is insurmountable.

I call on the government to ponder hard on this issue, for the wellbeing of kind-hearted individuals who take time, energy and money to save and take care of these animals, which many suffer emotionally, mentally and financially embarking on this mission without active support from the government. I call on the government to take action and support this humane initiative by investing in a TnR program, encouraging sterilization and enforcing accountability.

Please sign this petition to urge our leaders to seriously look into the wellbeing of rescuers and volunteers and the welfare of stray cats and dogs through humane methods and effective legislation. Humane population management is not achieved by one group alone, it takes communities, volunteers, organizations and government willing to work together for long term change.

As Mahatma Gandhi stated, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”