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MBKS and SSPCA join Forces to Tackle Stray Animals

22nd May, 2017, Kuching � The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) is pleased to announce the launch of a new animal welfare initiative in Kuching � the MBKS-SSPCA Capture, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release (CNVR) Pilot Program � to reduce the population of stray animals in the MBKS administered areas. This is the first such program by a Local Council in Kuching. The pilot program will run from March to December 2017.

The CNVR approach targets free roaming, un-owned animals in a specific area, and is a globally accepted non-lethal method of stray animal population control. It has also been shown to be the most cost-effective option, especially for developing countries with limited budgets for animal population management. There have been many studies done in various programs throughout the world that prove the effectiveness of CNVR programs. As an example, a study showed that the population of dogs in targeted villages in Bali was reduced by over half when 75 percent of the village dogs were spayed or neutered. The population of puppies in these areas decreased from 32 percent to 25 percent.

The Tabuan Dayak/Brighton Square areas have been selected as the first target area for the program. The area was chosen because it has a mix of mix of land-use types – commercial, residential, vacant land, and construction land � which represents the mix of land types within Kuching City. The area also has a mix of low, medium and high-end density properties, which will allow the team to test the CNVR approach in different areas. Only free-roaming stray dogs within the pilot program area will be targeted. All the stray dogs will be neutered, vaccinated and returned to the colony. They will be marked with a coloured collar or ear tag to show that they have been neutered.

�The CNVR program is part of our ongoing partnership with MBKS to reduce the stray animal population in their administrative areas,� said Datin Dona Drury-Wee, SSPCA President. �Irresponsible pet owners dump unwanted puppies and kittens at markets and food centres. This contributes to the growing number of strays in our city and poses a health and safety risk to people,� she added.

Stray animals, primarily stray dogs and cats, can be found in most developing countries in the world. In 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other bodies, reported that the total worldwide population of stray dogs and cats is between 20,000,000 and 600,000,000.

Rebecca D�Cruz, SSPCA Chairman said, �We conducted a survey of the stray dog population in the program area in October 2016. The total number of free-roaming dogs counted during the survey was 86. Using a standard multiplier � based on the experience from other countries � the total estimated population of free-roaming dogs in the pilot project area is 258.

Some have asked the question, �Why not just remove the dogs?�. �Dogs are territorial and by now have established their territories within the housing and commercial areas in the MBKS area. Slowly reducing the numbers through de-sexing and natural deaths will keep new animals from coming in from the outside to take over the vacuum created if we remove the dogs all at once. New animals coming to take over the vacuum created will start fighting over territory again, and this will result in nuisance noise, aggressive behaviour as well as human-animal conflict.

�Based on the findings from this pilot program, we hope to be able to get this methodology institutionalized across Sarawak, in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government, the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak, the Sarawak Veterinary Association, and other animal welfare organizations in Sibu, Miri and Kuching,� said Datin Dona-Drury Wee.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/SarawakSPCA/photos/a.176524749431.1..

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SPCA Sarawak

The Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals believes that animals, as living creatures, have value beyond economic measurement, and are entitled to legal, moral and ethical consideration and protection. The Sarawak SPCA's mission is to act as an advocate on behalf of animals and as an enforcer of their rights; to provide for the well-being of the animals of the State of Sarawak who are abandoned, injured, subjected to unfair or cruel treatment, or otherwise in need; to cultivate in the people of our community an awareness of the animals whose world we share; to promote a bond of mutual assistance between people and animals; and to instill respect for and appreciation of all living things.

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