Policies, People, And Action To Tackle Strays

The second article in this three-part special report explores how Local Authorities manage stray animals through policy, field operations, and community cooperation.

The stray animal issue in this country largely stems from irresponsible human behaviour—especially pet owners neglecting their duties or abandoning animals when they fall ill or become difficult to care for.

The rising stray population poses safety and health risks to the public, with the responsibility of managing the issue falling on Local Authorities (PBTs) under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT).

Often accused by activists and animal lovers of inhumane culling practices, PBTs have since improved their approach, guided by policies and regulations introduced by KPKT over the past decade.

In fact, KPKT has actively allocated special funds to PBTs across the country to tackle stray animal issues involving cats and dogs. For instance, this year, the ministry allocated RM10,000 to the Johor Bahru City Council to implement programmes for neutering, vaccination, advocacy, and pet adoption.

Last year, the ministry disbursed RM1.21 million to PBTs to carry out seven environmental campaigns, including stray animal management.

Additionally, several PBTs have taken more proactive steps such as establishing shelters for stray animals collected within their jurisdictions, including the Sepang Municipal Council, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and the Klang Royal City Council.

THE REALITY OF STATISTICS AND THE IMPACT OF HOTSPOTS

Sharing its experience with Bernama, the Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ) said it received 1,851 complaints over the past year related to animal disturbances in public areas, including cats and dogs.

"Of that number, 1,393 involved dogs, 222 complaints were related to cats, and 96 complaints concerned crows," MBSJ Health Department Director Dr Nurnawwar Arpaaii told Bernama in a recent interview.

Dr Nurnawwar Arpaaii.

"She said the council refers to various regulations to manage the issue, including the Dog Licensing By-Laws 2007 and the Animal Management Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) 2014.

Each complaint is investigated, and for cases involving wildlife, they are referred to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (Perhilitan), while domestic animals like dogs and cats are handled by MBSJ’s special unit through capture and temporary placement at the MBSJ Animal Centre in Taman Perindustrian Puchong Utama.

Animals are provided food, medical treatment, and a clean environment through special allocations. MBSJ also refutes any allegations of cruelty and reaffirms its commitment to animal welfare, in line with KPKT’s SOP which emphasises improving animal detention centres towards a cleaner, fairer, and more humane no-kill system.

As a long-term preventive measure, MBSJ has introduced a dog licensing system requiring all pet owners to obtain licences for dogs aged three months and above. This licensing aims to control the dog population, ensure full vaccinations, and facilitate monitoring of animal health and behaviour in urban communities.

“This measure not only reduces the risk of diseases like rabies but also promotes responsible pet ownership,” she explained, adding that the council has also provided dog care guidelines, including limits on the number of dogs per household and special rules for high-rise residences.

However, key challenges remain. Repeated complaints from the same locations raise questions about the effectiveness of long-term solutions. Residential areas and public parks near commercial zones have been identified as hotspots, with internal records showing repeat complaints within six months. One of the main causes is individuals feeding the animals indiscriminately, which attracts them back to those locations.

Another limitation is the relatively small number of enforcement personnel compared to the number of complaints received.

“I would like to emphasise the importance of using official channels such as the WhatsApp hotline and  the MBSJ app. Immediate action can only be taken if complaints include complete information such as location and visual evidence.

“Complaints made via social media without an official report make our investigations difficult,” she added, hoping the public will be more aware and comply with procedures so that each complaint can be addressed effectively.

FIELD CHALLENGES, POLICY GAPS, AND STRUCTURAL LIMITATIONS

Managing stray animals in urban areas is a complex, multi-layered challenge for PBTs, said Dr Nurnawwar, noting that while operational teams follow established SOPs, on-the-ground situations are often unpredictable and hard to fully control.

“The physical condition of an area, unpredictable weather, and reactions from the local community are among the factors that can disrupt operations,” she said.

A member of the Perak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) applies flea medicine to a stray puppy during the TNR program at the Feral Dog Shelter, Kampung Kepayang.

She also pointed out that geographical factors often become a major barrier in managing stray animals. Hard-to-reach areas such as thick underbrush, hillsides, or multi-storey buildings make control efforts more difficult.

Apart from physical challenges, the safety of enforcement officers must also be taken seriously, as there have been cases where officers were bitten by dogs or attacked by bees while on duty, she added. Currently, the existing operational structure remains reactive, relying mainly on public complaints.

Urban development further complicates matters, as the expansion into new areas disrupts the original habitats of animals, forcing them into human settlements. Without urban planning that incorporates ecological considerations, stray animal issues will persist.

“In truth, the conflict between urban policies and animal protection can only be addressed through integrated coordination between PBT, Perhilitan, the Public Works Department, and the Department of Town and Country Planning,” she emphasised, recommending a holistic and humane policy framework be developed to ensure a balance between progress and the sustainability of the urban ecosystem.

PUBLIC EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY

The phenomenon of individuals freely feeding stray animals—especially in densely populated residential areas—has contributed to the rise in human-animal conflict. While often done with good intentions, this practice ends up creating uncontrolled clusters of animals that breed freely, ultimately posing a threat to the local community.

It is understood that several PBTs in the country have introduced by-laws prohibiting the uncontrolled feeding of stray animals. However, enforcement and legal coverage remain limited, and the fines imposed are relatively low, resulting in minimal deterrent impact.

KPKT through local authorities including MBSJ is always committed to ensuring the well-being and welfare of abandoned animals in the Animal Centres in their respective areas.Photo credit MBSJ.

The Local Government Act 1976 (Act 171) generally empowers PBTs to introduce by-laws, including those aimed at managing nuisance cases and roaming animals. For example, the Penang City Council (MBPP) enacted the Roaming Animals By-Laws in 1990. These laws prohibit uncontrolled feeding of animals and allow actions such as seizure or shooting of wild animals that pose a nuisance.

Nevertheless, the implementation of fines and compounds under these by-laws typically remains relatively low. According to provisions under Act 171, PBTs can impose a maximum fine of RM1,000 or a compound of up to RM500 for minor offences, with an additional daily fine of RM200 if the offence continues. This existing penalty structure may be seen as insufficient to serve as an effective deterrent against the act of feeding animals indiscriminately.

According to Dr Nurnawwar, although MBSJ has not yet drafted such specific by-laws, they have implemented many other proactive initiatives. These include encouraging the public to act more ethically by adopting stray animals, ensuring they are neutered and vaccinated.

To raise public awareness of animal welfare, MBSJ actively organises a variety of talks, educational programmes in collaboration with schools and universities, and partnerships with religious institutions such as mosques and churches across the country.

 She added that this initiative aims to instil a shared sense of responsibility within communities for the care of stray animals.

“As part of our improvement efforts, we see the need to strengthen partnerships with educational institutions by introducing special learning modules on animal care and responsible pet ownership,” she said.

In addition, MBSJ continues to expand community involvement through animal rehabilitation and adoption programmes, in collaboration with local non-governmental organisations (NGOs). One initiative that has gained traction is the ‘Adopt Me Love Me’ campaign, which has led to an increase in the number of stray animals being taken in by new owners.

“This campaign not only receives strong public support but also leverages a network of NGOs that continuously carry out adoption drives,” she added.

These efforts are in line with the policy support from KPKT, which allows NGOs to adopt stray animals for free for rehabilitation purposes, and also supports neutering and vaccination programmes in collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and local authorities.

SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

Touching on comprehensive approaches such as neutering, vaccination, and long-term care, Dr Nurnawwar said such efforts require cooperation from various parties.

In this context, community support is vital to ensure both animal welfare and the safety of local communities. Without public understanding and active involvement, current control efforts will not be sustainable in the long run.

As a long-term measure, her team is assessing the possibility of implementing a subsidised neutering programme or offering incentives to communities that actively assist in managing stray animals. This incentive-based approach is seen as more sustainable and effective than relying solely on enforcement actions.

The KPKT SOP emphasises that all local authorities should improve animal detention centers towards a no-kill system that is cleaner, fairer and more humane. Photo credit MBSJ.

To support this long-term effort, public education plays a crucial role. According to Dr Nurnawwar,  when delivered consistently, education can help build a community that is not only caring but also well-informed—an essential foundation for collaboration between local authorities, NGOs, and the public.

Programmes like Animal Care Education (ACE) by the Malaysian National Animal Welfare Foundation (MNAWF) and educational initiatives by SPCA Selangor on responsible pet ownership can serve as models for local councils to develop more effective community-based programmes.

An integrated approach involving smart apps, community seminars, and collaborative campaigns with NGOs like F5-Strays and Noah’s Ark Natural Animal Shelter (NANAS) has the potential to foster deeper understanding and empathy among the public toward stray animals.

With consistent, inclusive, and community-friendly educational programmes in place, Malaysia’s stray animal management policies can move toward being more sustainable, humane, and effective in the long term, Dr Nurnawwar said.