He said the council’s efforts were carried out through a trap-neuter-release system implemented in 2017 in collaboration with an international programme for the protection and welfare of animals.

Chow said Penang was the first state to implement the trap-neuter-release system. “We also practice a policy of not killing or destroying stray dogs that are caught unless they are terminally ill,” he said after opening a cat show in Bayan Lepas.

However, he said the city council still receives complaints about stray dogs and cats, especially in the Teluk Bahang and Balik Pulau areas.

Chow said neutered dogs are released in the place where they were found, because dogs are territorial animals. Some dogs are also adopted as pets by those who want to protect the animals.