Inhumane Councils vs Animal Rescuers in Pulau Ketam

News From SPCA Selangor
For release on Wednesday, 14th April 2009

KLANG, 12 APRIL 2009 – The SPCA Selangor Animal Inspectors and 4 officers from the Department of Veterinary Services visited Pulau Ketam and a neighbouring village on Sunday, in response to further complaints regarding the catching and dumping of stray dogs from Pulau Ketam on nearby uninhabited Islands.

Dr Hamdan bin Ahmad and 3 officers from the DVS, SPCA Assistant Animal Inspector V. Murugan, Global Animal Welfare Solutions (GAWS) consultant Glyn Roberts and several animal rescuers surveyed the villages and spoke to villagers about the stray dog crisis unfolding on the island.

(Cages used to transport dogs to the island)


(Animal rescuers Joanne and Leigh looking at dog traps made by a villager)

Pulau Ketam consists of two settlements - Pulau Ketam Village and Sungai Lima Village. Both villages claim to have been facing a stray dog crisis for the last several years.

Last week, newspapers reported that Pulau Ketam villagers were trapping stray dogs and transporting them to a vacant islands in a desperate attempt to reduce the population of dogs.

Sungai Lima villagers were planning to start a similar operation, but after discussions on Sunday both groups have agreed to suspend trapping until after a meeting next week with SPCA Selangor, DVS and Majlis Perbandaran Klang.

(Dogs living beneath the houses and shops)

Pulau Ketam villagers informed the officers that an estimated 200 to 400 dogs had already been trapped and abandoned on uninhabited Pulau Tengah out of an estimated population of 2000, while Sungai Lima villagers estimated their stray dog population to be around 600.

Despite a visit lasting a number of hours, neither the SPCA or DVS Officials saw more than 20-30 dogs altogether at both locations - although the villagers stated that the dogs only appeared when the tide came in and spent their time living beneath the houses and walkways which are built on stilts .


No dogs were seen on the island which was said to be the location where the dogs were abandoned, although landing on the island for a closer inspection was impossible due to the muddy shoreline.

The interior of the island was stated to be solid, with illegal logging being undertaken.

“Stray dogs are a human problem and borne out of our negligence and irresponsibility. SPCA strongly proposes spay/neuter of all owned pets to reduce the over-breeding of unwanted pets.

This is the most humane way to stop this overpopulation. Throwing dogs onto uninhabitable islands is cruel as these dogs will meet miserable and cruel deaths in time to come,” said SPCA Selangor Chairperson Christine Chin.

SPCA Selangor works closely with DVS on Municipal Pound issues largely concentrating on the plight of stray dogs.

In May last year, DVS came up with the Guidelines on Humane Stray Dog Control highlighting the 5 Freedoms for animals as a priority.

Despite a directive from DVS Director-General Dato Dr Aziz against the shooting of stray dogs, rebellious councils continue to do so at the risk of hurting citizens and maiming stray dogs without killing them instantly.

This is a cruel and barbaric act on the Councils' part.

The SPCA Selangor will be attending the meeting next week to see if a humane, long-term solution to both the stray dog problem and abandoned dogs can be reached.