KUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — Selangor is in the final stage of deciding whether or not to ban all pet shops in the state from selling dogs and cats, The Star reported.

The daily cited state executive councillor in charge of the local government, public transportation and new village development Ng Sze Han saying that the move is to encourage adoption from animal shelters and prevent abandonment of the pets that result in strays.

"Pet stores can sell pet food instead. In my constituency in Kinrara, we have a weekly pet adoption programme outside the IOI mall and about 20 pets are adopted on a monthly basis.

"If all local councils carry out such programmes we can help reduce the pet abandonment rate,” Ng was quoted as saying at a forum on abandoned dogs yesterday.

He was also reported saying the Selangor government has recommended that all its local councils use the netting method instead of the looping method to catch stray dogs as it is a more humane way.

"The netting method was an innovation by the Sabak Bernam District Council and is a more humane way of catching the dog.

"The looping method can still be used when necessary as it is allowed based on dog catching regulations set by the Ministry of Local Government Development.

"However, in Selangor, all local councils can use the netting method and the looping method based on the situation on the ground,” he was quoted as saying.

He also said that the state government is in the final stages of launching a Fur Shelter on a 1.2-hectare plot of land to promote pet adoption of both cats and dogs, education and raise funds in a sustainable manner through various activities.

"We need continuous awareness and education about stray animals. Some people don’t understand why a stray is returned to the same location after it is caught by the local council. In these cases, the dogs are spayed and then released,” he was quoted as saying.

He did not reveal the exact location of the shelter but said that it would be at the border of Subang Jaya and close to Cyberjaya.

The Star reported that the Subang Jaya City Council recorded 1,000 public complaints about dogs as at the end of May, adding that the Sabak Bernam District Council recorded 3,000 public complaints about dogs in 2022.