Animal welfare society and Klang council tackle animal overpopulation with subsidised fees for pet owners
Animal overpopulation is being addressed by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor and the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) through a subsidised mass neutering programme. The programme, called “Potong Royong” Klang, recently took place at Dewan Ambang Botanik 2 in Klang and was attended by Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin and MPK president Noraini Roslan. The initiative, in collaboration with the Star Pets Animal Clinic based at SPCA Selangor and the Malaysian Veterinary Medical Association (Mavma), aims to control the increasing stray animal populations and has received positive attention for its innovative approach and commitment to animal welfare.
The recent week-long programme offered subsidised fees for neutering cats at RM30 and dogs at RM70. The programme received assistance from veterinarians, as well as students and graduates from Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Exhibitors selling pet-related products, pet vaccines, and medication for post-surgery were also present.
Dr Natasha Lee, the director of Star Pets, expressed hope that the programme would continue, but emphasized the need for collaboration from other agencies and the local authority to provide logistical support for the project. Lee highlighted the importance of parking space availability in holding such events. She explained that it costs around RM130 to neuter a cat and RM180 to neuter a dog.
Kelvin Cheah, the general manager of SPCA Selangor, acknowledged the support of Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin and the local authority, which he believes underscores the significance of the initiative. He stated that within the initial days of operation, the programme successfully neutered over 270 cats and provided subsidised services to over 100 cats, including check-ups, vaccinations, deworming, and defleaing treatments. As the project progressed, the same subsidised services were offered to dog owners, marking an important step in promoting responsible pet ownership and controlling the canine population.
Cheah expressed the organisers’ interest in partnering with local governments to replicate their success and make a broader impact on animal welfare. SPCA Selangor aims to expand the programme’s scope to include the entire country of Malaysia, in order to create a sustainable impact on animal welfare. Noraini, from MPK, expressed pride in collaborating with Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, Star Pets, SPCA, and other contributors and government agencies. She affirmed MPK’s commitment to provide allocation for the programme in the future, as the neutering programme is considered the best solution to address the issue of stray animals.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
