Penang Island has recorded 8,484 stray dogs successfully neutered under its Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) programme since it was introduced in March 2018, with the city council reaffirming its commitment to a zero-kill policy.
The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) renewed its partnership with the Independent Aid for Protection and Welfare of Animals (IAPWA) Penang for a third time on 22 May, extending the collaboration for another five years.
Speaking at the renewal ceremony, MBPP mayor Datuk A. Rajendran described the TNR approach as a more effective and humane strategy for managing the stray dog population.
“This is a more effective and humane approach to controlling the population of stray and abandoned dogs,” he said.
The programme, launched on 1 March 2018, has also seen approximately 1,000 dogs rehomed. No stray dogs have been put down by the council throughout the eight-year partnership.
IAPWA Penang president Choong Koon Yean said the public-private partnership had proven successful and could serve as a national model for stray animal management.
“This programme has shown that this is the most humane, professional and effective stray management,” she said. “The public-private partnership behind the TNR programme has proven successful in Penang and could serve as a model for other parts of the country.”
The monthly operational cost of the programme ranges between RM60,000 and RM70,000. Since 2017, IAPWA has raised over RM5 million to sustain the initiative.
MBPP supports the programme by providing the operations centre and stray control centre, covering all maintenance and utility costs. At the renewal ceremony, the council allocated RM100,000 to IAPWA.
Corporate donations were also received, with Datuk Chuah Choon Bin of Pentamaster Corporation and Koay Lin Lin of Greatech Technology each contributing RM100,000. Councillor Tan Soo Siang contributed RM5,000.
MBPP also urged pet owners to register their dogs with the council. Licences cost RM10 per year and can be applied for through the MBPP website.
Source: Malay Mail
