KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 — The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) is exploring an integrated digital registration system for pet dogs using microchip technology.
Deputy minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said the technology, spearheaded by the Veterinary Services Department (DVS), aims to streamline dog ownership details and monitor the animals’ status.
“This will allow us to access comprehensive ownership data and the status of each dog, including information on owners, licensing, vaccination, sterilisation, and monitoring records from time to time,” she said during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Negara today.
She was responding to a supplementary question from Senator Che Alias Hamid about whether the government is prepared to make microchip installation mandatory for breeding control, and to grant clear authority to local authorities to capture and manage stray dog populations to reduce the risk of animal attacks.
She said the approaches of capturing, reclaiming, adopting, or handing over stray dogs to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), as well as humane disposal, are the most widely practised methods in many countries to control stray dog populations.
Earlier, Aiman Athirah said the KPKT channelled RM180,000 last year and RM130,000 this year to local authorities involved in supporting the stray dog population management campaign.
According to her, the campaign aims to boost public awareness and foster responsible pet ownership to avoid the problem of abandoning pet dogs.
She said 37,538 complaints about stray dogs were received over the past year, during which 15,815 operations were conducted and 66,264 stray dogs were captured through integrated operations.
“Of this number, 19,354 dogs were handed over to the DVS, reclaimed by their owners, or adopted through the foster dog programme.
Aiman Athirah added that training was provided to local authority personnel involved in catching stray dogs, including instructions on the ethical use of equipment, safe capture techniques, and adherence to animal welfare standards.
