IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR STRAY FEEDERS
We understand why you want to feed a stray dog or cat as helping an animal in need is a natural human instinct. It makes you feel good to help a starving animal. However, this good deed which comes with the best of intentions can lead to a host of other problems including:
Increase in the number of animals at your feeding location because food is readily available.
Feeders who do not clean up after the animals may foul up the area with food remains and litter.
Dogs, over-protective of their territory, may get aggressive and attack people.
Dogs and cats, fed regularly, grow strong and healthy and will produce bigger and healthier litters.
The number of animals grow too large to manage and the town council may be called in to remove the animals after receiving complaints from the public.
Even complete removal of the animals will create a vacuum for other stray dogs and cats to enter the territory and the problem will start all over again.
If You FEED Them, FIX Them!
NANAS advocates sterilisation through community-based Trap Neuter Manage (TNM) programmes as the most humane approach to reducing the stray population. It has the following benefits:
Trapping the animals, females as well as males, to be sterilised is the only way to break the cycle of unwanted pregnancies and the reduction of endless litters of puppies and kittens.
Returning the animals will also ensure that they continue to defend their territory against incoming animals.
A well managed colony will be maintained at a manageable size until all animals live out their natural lives.
Dogs will be less aggressive, less inclined to roam and be easier to manage.
As for cats, there will be less yowling, fighting and urine spray marking by males.
Cats also help to halt the spread of disease by controlling the rodent population in their territories.
For this to work, everyone has to take responsibility. A caregiver also needs to be appointed to manage the animals as well as the people feeding them to avoid further complaints from the public.
If you want to start a programme in your neighbourhood, please email us at contact@strayfreemalaysia.com.