SHAH ALAM, Aug 3 — A Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) operation to capture stray dogs in Taman Teluk Gedung Indah, during which a dog was killed, was done according to standard operating procedures (SOP) set by the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT), said Klang Mayor Dato’ Abd Hamid Hussain.
He said the operation was conducted following resident complaints about how strays are affecting public safety, and cited a recent incident that resulted in the victim being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Referring to a recent case involving the killing of a stray dog, he said a complaint was received about an incident on Jalan Sungai Sama Gagah 19B on July 13 and 14, before the operation was conducted on July 29 from 8.30pm to midnight.
“My officers and staff complied with the SOP set by KPKT by using equipment such as coils and nets.
“The dog’s death occurred due to a struggle during the operation, not because of the method of capture,” he said when met at the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Building here today.
Hamid said the operation involved 11 MBDK personnel along with about 50 residents and Neighbourhood Watch (KRT) members, who captured 12 stray dogs.
“The stray dog problem in the area is quite critical, so MBDK, along with KRT, conducted a special operation. Before the operation, all officers and residents involved were briefed on capture methods according to the SOP,” he explained.
However, Hamid said, when capturing the 13th dog, a woman who claimed to be the owner of the animal grabbed it, which led to a fatal struggle for the dog.
“A struggle ensued when the woman claimed the dog was hers. That incident caused the dog to become entangled and die,” he added.
Hamid said the woman then denied the dog was hers, and checks revealed that she didn’t have a licence to prove her ownership of the dog.
“If there was no disruption to the operation, we believe the incident would not have occurred. If it is true the dog had an owner, a claim can be submitted to the council according to established procedures,” he said.
Hamid said two MBDK officers had been called to assist in the police probe into the incident.
He added that MBDK receives around 50 complaints about stray dogs every month, and said the lack of enforcers and difficulties in getting private companies to carry out captures led to the council conducting operations with local residents.
“(Stray) dogs don’t just disturb residents, but also students and food delivery riders. That is why we work with residents to identify (hotspots) and help conduct operations more effectively,” Hamid said.
