State housing and local government committee chairman Sandrea Ng said the NGOs would manage the shelters while the state will facilitate the process at minimal cost, Bernama reported.

“The shelters will provide a place to care for stray animals, especially those involved in complaints.

“We hope more parties will continue to work with us,” she was quoted as saying at a press conference after launching the 2025 Perak Pawsitive Initiative for the Kinta district today.

Ng said most strays came from pet owners who failed to neuter their animals, leading to unplanned litter and public complaints.

She said that as of April, the state’s 15 local councils had received 1,421 dog-related complaints.

Under the Pawsitive Initiative, 301 dogs and 254 cats had been neutered as of June 23, and 498 pet licences issued.

Ng also said the state government has conducted a subsidised neutering campaign, public awareness programmes through the Friends of Pawsitive Initiative platform, as well as photography and art competitions, and pet adoption drives to address the issue.