Well, it seems pressure does really work. I must thank The Star for steadfastly bringing this matter up. Keep up the good work.

Until the next time, cheers.

The Star, Tuesday December 27, 2011

Temporary dog pound set up in Kajang

THE MPKj store in Jalan Reko, has been turned into a temporary pound, Kajang councillor Steven Chan said.

The 3.05mx3.05m) pound, which cost the council RM10,000 began operations this month. It can house up to 20 stray dogs.

However, there is no place for the disposal of excrement due to lack of funds.

“We want to create a humane condition for captured animals.

“A council nursery site in Section 13, Bandar Baru Bangi, has been identified as a site for the pound.

“We need RM30,000 to build a proper pound,” he said.

Chan heads the eight-men task force for stray dogs, which is made up of councillors and NGOs.

“I thank the people who exposed the case of mistreated animals by dog-catchers employed by the council as it gave us a chance to learn something.

“The Klang Municipal Council used to be the worst council when it comes to animal welfare, now it is the best and we want to learn from them. We want to show that we are a loving and caring council,” he said.

Chan added that the dog-catchers were now taught to differentiate between pets and strays.

“I have suggested for the dogs to be kept in the pound for seven days instead of merely one to three days before they are put to sleep if unclaimed,” he said.

At the task force meeting, complaints about the methods strays were caught and put to sleep was discussed.

MPKj Town and Health Services Department director Arshad Haji Salleh said only eight dogs were in the council lorry before they were put to sleep instead if the 30 as claimed.

The council has received 948 complaints on stray dogs.

About RM132,000 was spent to hire three companies to catch and put stray dogs to sleep for the period between Nov 1, 2010 and April 30, 2011, and Oct 10 and Dec 10, 2011.