On behalf of the Coalition of Animal NGOs in Malaysia, Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia (SAFM) proposed a dialogue between government agencies, local authorities, the veterinary services department, animal welfare NGOs and community leaders.

It said there are humane and scientifically proven solutions, such as the Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage (TNRM) programme, that can be adopted to control the stray population.

“For decades, capturing and killing stray dogs has been practised, but has failed to reduce their population effectively.

“This clearly demonstrates that killing is not a sustainable solution,” it said in a statement.

The group was responding to news reports of an incident on Jan 27 where an elderly woman was mauled to death by 11 stray dogs at the Kunak bus terminal in Sabah.

CCTV footage showed the woman being surrounded and attacked. Her body was later found partially clothed, with bite marks on her left hand, head, chest, waist and legs.

In its statement, SAFM outlined several alternative measures, including public education on responsible pet ownership, the expansion of neutering programmes and the establishment of more no-kill shelters.

It also called on the government to amend and strictly enforce the Animal Welfare Act 2015 to hold local authorities accountable for their actions in handling stray animals.

To enhance oversight, SAFM also recommended forming an independent animal welfare board to monitor local authorities’ actions and ensure stray management aligns with humane principles.

“Public safety and animal welfare are not mutually exclusive – they must be addressed together for the benefit of all,” it added.