Melaka CM orders inspection of animal shelters in state after photos of starving dogs at Selangor pound spread online
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 — Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali has ordered the local district councils to check on all animal shelters in the historical state, The Star reported today.
Sulaiman told the newspaper he was horrified by the treatment of stray dogs kept at a district pound in neighbouring Selangor after seeing photos shared online showing their emaciated state.
“It’s not the way to treat God’s creations,” he was quoted saying.
He was also reported to have made a personal donation to animal advocacy group Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB) for food supplies for the pooches.
“I hope Malaysians will come forward to champion the welfare of animals,” Sulaiman told the newspaper, adding that his state government will look into ways to provide aid for strays.
On January 10, MDDB posted several pictures of some unhealthily skinny dogs inside a cage on its Facebook that it said appeared to be taken at the Kuala Langat Municipal Council in Selangor.
It asked how many people could foster the dogs, adding that it believed there were 100 pooches being kept there.
The Star also reported a Negri Sembilan state lawmaker weighing in on the photos of the captured stray dogs at the Selangor pound.
Jeram Padang assemblyman Datuk Manickam Letchuman held up the Negri Sembilan government’s humane practice to deal with stray animals as an example to follow.
“The only way to reduce the number of stray animals within a five-year time frame is the Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage method.
“Our exco in charge of local councils, Teo Kok Seong, is very attentive towards implementing a humane method in handling street dog issues,” Manickam was quoted as saying.
