Perak's 'Pawsitive Initiative' could be national model for stray animal management

IPOH: Perak's Perak Pawsitive Initiative has demonstrated a successful sustainable approach to managing stray animal populations, Minister Chan Foong Hin believes. The government's integrated effort addresses animal welfare, public safety, veterinary health, and community harmony concerns. Recently, Chan received a delegation from the initiative to showcase their strategies for dealing with stray dogs and cats in Perak.

Since its inception in 2024, the initiative has fostered strategic collaborations among various stakeholders to tackle the issue. Chan emphasized the importance of strengthening legal and enforcement frameworks, such as enacting bylaws and mandating microchipping for pet dogs, as well as constructing stray animal shelters. He stressed that the issue of stray animals is multi-faceted, impacting public safety, veterinary health, animal welfare, and community harmony.

Coordination between federal and state governments is crucial to ensure initiatives align towards achieving a "Zero Stray" status. The initiative has conducted 13 neutering sessions statewide, neutering 1,355 dogs and 1,047 cats, and issued 1,303 dog licenses. The next programme is set for October 17-18 at the Teluk Intan Municipal Council Rest House Hall, offering subsidized neutering, license applications, renewals, and free health check-ups and vaccinations.