MBPP mayor Rajendran Anthony said however that maintaining this level of cleanliness, especially through continuously hosing down streets and parks with water, was challenging because of the council’s limited resources.

“We plan to jet-spray the affected areas. Cleanliness is a big task, and clearing the poison is an uphill task for us,” he told reporters at Komtar today.

Rajendran was asked about plans by the council to do a deep clean of the parks in Tanjung Bungah following a spate of dog poisoning cases that has claimed the lives of more than 30 strays and two pets.

Residents and activists in Tanjung Bungah have urged local authorities to take stronger action to ensure the safety of pets and strays in the area. They said they have been forced to keep their pets at home.

Rajendran said there are 460 trap-neuter-release dogs on the island, and the number of stray dogs is under 1,000. He said there would be enough budget to neuter strays and release them.

As of mid-July this year, 714 dogs have been caught and 680 neutered, reflecting ongoing efforts to manage the stray population humanely.

He also said some strays were hiding in the hills and would descend to scavenge for food.

The licensing of dogs is under the purview of the council, while the deaths of animals fall under the jurisdiction of the veterinary services department.