<figure id="attachment_2821948" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2821948" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-2821948 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/21a45f4d-stray-dogs-anjing-jalanan-bernama-250724-1.webp" alt="stray dogs" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2821948" class="wp-caption-text">Housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming has assured that euthanasia will only be used as a ‘last resort’ under his ministry’s trap-reclaim-rehome-dispose approach towards strays. (Bernama pic)</figcaption></figure>
PETALING JAYA: Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia (SAFM) has urged the government to cover all bail-out fees imposed by local authorities on stray dogs.
The group’s president, R Kalaivanan, said these fees are financially burdensome for many groups and are often applied inconsistently.
<figure id="attachment_3112910" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3112910" style="width: 200px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-3112910 size-full" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/92db7d2e-r-kalaivanan-ms-190725.webp" alt="" width="200" height="200" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3112910" class="wp-caption-text">R Kalaivanan.</figcaption></figure>
“These fees range from hundreds to thousands of ringgit per dog.
&#8220;This inconsistency creates an unfair and unsustainable challenge for NGOs working on limited budgets,” he said in a statement.
“The bail-out process should be smooth and easy, allowing NGOs to quickly rescue animals without unnecessary delays or complications.
“This will enable NGOs to focus on their mission to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome stray animals without huge financial implications.”
Kalaivanan also proposed that groups be given at least 14 days to rescue strays. This is to ensure every stray has the opportunity to be rehabilitated and rehomed.
He said efforts to reduce the stray population in Malaysia were not the sole responsibility of animal groups or shelters as the government has to play an important role in supporting animal welfare efforts.
“We are already helping the government reduce the stray population in a humane manner. We need government support to ensure these efforts are sustainable and have a lasting impact,” he said.
Yesterday, the government stated it would maintain its long-standing trap-reclaim-rehome-dispose (TRRD) approach to manage stray dogs.
A housing and local government ministry spokesman said TRRD is the most practical approach to deal with strays.
However, the spokesman said the ministry was open to suggestions but needed to exercise “extreme caution” when considering alternative proposals.
Last November, minister Nga Kor Ming gave an assurance that euthanasia would only be used as a “last resort” measure under this TRRD approach.
He said only strays that are sick or pose a nuisance or danger to the public would be put down.

MatchPoint Times

Cover bail-out fee for strays, animal welfare NGO tells govt

Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia says the bail-out fees imposed by local councils are inconsistent, ranging from hundreds to thousands of ringgit per dog.

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