The Ipoh City Council (MBI) is actively conducting negotiations with several animal lover associations to resolve the ongoing issue of stray dogs around the city.
However, the Mayor of Ipoh, Dato’ Rumaizi Baharin @ Md Daud said that although negotiations have been carried out, no fully satisfactory solution has been found to combat the problem.
“We have actually held negotiations with several associations of animal lovers, especially dog lovers. But the problem is that we haven’t found a fully satisfactory solution yet. Because while we do have an area for these animals, the issue now is who wants to manage and maintain the area to keep the animals?
“We have also consulted with the Veterinary Department but that is still in the consultation stage,” he said.
He said this in commenting on the issue of stray dogs around Ipoh, which are said to disrupt the daily routine of residents in addition to being feared for spreading disease.
Rumaizi also explained that the MBI was not involved in the incident of stray dogs suddenly dying in large numbers.
“This is not our (MBI) doing, this is the work of vandalism. We have already asked the police to investigate and we just have to wait for the results of their investigation.
“We hope people don’t do that (poisoning stray dogs), because that is a criminal act,” he said.
“What I saw in the area, for example, might be people dumping dogs. Like in the factory area near Chemor.
“Suddenly there are a lot of dogs, maybe some are not able to take care of a lot of dogs, so they just throw them there,” he told Ipohecho yesterday.
Asked if the cause of stray dogs increased in number because the MBI was slow to take action, Rumaizi denied it.
“We take action according to the standard operating procedure.
By Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
