AIR Itam assemblyman Joseph Ng handed over a total of 150 packets of rice to the International Aid for the Protection and Welfare of Animals (IAPWA) Penang today.
Ng said apart from helping the community, it is also important to take care of the welfare of animal homes during the pandemic.
“We must also look into the needs of animals such as the stray dogs and cats during times such as this.
“These rice packets, which were contributed by some of the non-governmental organisations, will be then distributed to other needy animal shelters by the IAPWA Penang.
“Last year, we had also contributed a total 186 rice packets to IAPWA Penang,’’ Ng said during the rice packets handover ceremony at the IAPWA Penang.
The IAPWA Penang has been partnering with the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to conduct the trap, neuter and release (TNR) programme for the stray dogs since 2019.
MBPP councillor Connie Tan, who was also present, said MBPP’s collaboration with the IAPWA Penang has contributed to the reduction in the number of stray dogs on the island.
“We have renewed our Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IAPWA Penang for another five years as the partnership is helping us to control the population of the strays.
“YB Joseph Ng, being one of the earliest state assemblymen coming to the aid of the strays, has indeed inspired other assemblymen to follow suit.
“The MBPP is all set to publish a magazine to educate the public on the TNR programme as we want to achieve our target of ‘zero strays’,’’ said Tan.
Tan also added that Air Putih assemblyman Lim Guan Eng has also donated a total of 50 rice bags to IAPWA Penang recently.
IAPWA Penang project director Choong Koon Yean urged the public not to abandon their pets but to be a responsible owner.
“Dogs which are abandoned by their owners usually will suffer out there. Thus, please do not dump them. We welcome those who would like to adopt our strays over here,’’ Choong added.
The IAPWA Penang is located off Jalan Sungai (next to Klinik Derma Sivasanta) and can be reached at [email protected].
Story by Tanushalini Moroter
Pix by Alissala Thian