This follows the council’s proposed volunteer operation to capture and kill 500 stray dogs in Setia Alam, in which volunteers will be paid RM30 for every dog caught from April 22 to 24.

Saying that only the veterinary services department would have the authority to kill stray dogs, group representative Rajesh Nagarajan urged for the programme to be called off and replaced with a trap-neuter-release programme for the whole state.

In a statement, he said it is “extremely unreasonable” for the council to declare that any dog caught cannot be bailed out, adding that the authorities should show a little mercy and justice.

According to MBSA’s notice of the operation, dogs caught cannot be claimed and will be brought to the council’s animal shelter to be killed.

Earlier, PAWS Animal Welfare Society manager Lim Choon Sun said there should be a grace period for people to claim their dogs.

“Why is MBSA taking such a drastic move and catching strays without a chance for them to be bailed out?” he said.

“If someone’s dog is caught after it runs out of their house, the owners cannot do anything to save them.”