Ng: TNRM is the way forward towards having a more humane and caring society.
SELANGOR may be implementing the trap-neuter-release-manage (TNRM) system for the stray animal population in the state.
The policy to humanely manage stray dogs will be discussed during the state assembly sitting in February next year.
Selangor local government committee chairman Datuk Ng Suee Lim said he would meet all the local councils in January to discuss the matter.
“We will listen to the pros and cons from other executive council members, assemblymen and relevant agencies,” he said
Ng added that he supported TNRM as it was the way forward towards having a more humane and caring society.
“Currently, we have no specific policy, but we will move towards a no-kill approach by applying the best ideas and proposals that come to us,’’ said Ng.
Under the TNRM system, street dogs are lured, caught or trapped by local councils, rescuers and feeders for neutering before being returned to their original locations.
These dogs will then be managed by rescuers and feeders.
PAWS Animal Welfare Society shelter manager Edward Lim said if TNRM could work in Penang, it can work in Selangor too.
“I believe we have to move away from the catching and killing method that had been ongoing for a very long time,” he said.
Recently, Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) had agreed to give TNRM a try in a collaborative effort with PAWS through a pilot programme in three locations in the city.
“We had discussions, as well as provided the necessary documentation to MBPJ.
“The city council gave its consent in May and we were all set to renovate our shelter to accommodate TRNM.
“But the initiative was put on hold due to some administrative glitch,” said Lim, adding that the plan was to neuter 150 street dogs a month.
Currently, PAWS receives all the dogs caught by MBPJ and euthanises them after a grace period if owners and rescuers do not come to get them out.
The proposal, given to MBPJ, was crafted by the PAWS team after visiting the Soi Dog Foundation in Thailand, International Aid for the Protection and Welfare of Animals (IAPWA) Penang and several independent rescuers who were neutering and releasing street dogs.
AnimalCare Society founder Dr Chan Kah Yein, who crafted the care-neuter-return-manage (CNRM) system, said it was time Selangor stopped killing street animals.
AnimalCare Society has been providing independent rescuers neutering subsidies for about 15 years.
“Hasn’t the catch-and-kill method gone on long enough without success?
“It is time to move to CNRM and educate the public on this.
“CNRM is a much more compassionate method to control the street population and rescuers and caregivers have embarked on it with success in certain areas.
“It works and it is the correct thing to do,’’ she said.
A rescuer, who declined to be named, said local councils were wasting funds with the catch-and-kill method.
“Why waste taxpayers’ hard earned money by continuing to do something which has failed,’’ she said.
She hoped the Housing and Local Government Ministry would support the implementation of TNRM.
