A stray dog died last week during a capture operation at Taman Teluk Gedung Indah in Klang after becoming entangled in a catch pole during a struggle with a resident claiming ownership of the animal [1, 2, 3, 4].

The Royal Klang City Council (MBDK) and Mayor Datuk Abd Hamid Hussain said the operation followed the standard operating procedures set by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. The procedure involves the use of loops and nets to capture stray dogs safely [1, 2, 3, 4]. Mayor Abd Hamid stated, "Based on reports from our officers, the operation was conducted according to SOPs. We use loops or nets to capture stray dogs. During a struggle with a resident who claimed to be the dog's owner, the animal became entangled in the catch pole and died." [1]

The operation was conducted by 11 MBDK personnel, assisted by about 50 residents, responding to roughly 50 monthly complaints from locals concerned about stray dogs posing safety risks in the neighborhood [1, 2, 3, 4]. The council successfully captured 12 dogs before the incident with the 13th dog, which later died during the struggle [1, 2, 3, 4].

Mayor Abd Hamid defended the use of catch poles and nets as necessary for safely handling and capturing stray dogs, noting, "If we caught dogs the way we catch butterflies, it might be different. But dogs can be aggressive animals, so we cannot catch them too gently because they could endanger us or escape." [2]

The individual involved initially claimed ownership of the dog but later denied it, according to the council. "Initially, he said the dog was his, but later he said it was not. So we do not know. We will leave it to the police to investigate, and further action will be taken once the investigation is completed," Mayor Abd Hamid said [4].

Two MBDK officers have had their statements recorded by police as part of an investigation into the incident [1, 2, 3, 4]. The council highlighted manpower shortages, with fewer than 20 personnel available to handle stray dog complaints across Klang. They were also unable to secure private contractors to assist in capturing the dogs [1, 2, 3].

Advance notice of the operation was issued through local residents’ and neighborhood committees to inform the community [1, 2, 3, 4]. Mayor Abd Hamid addressed the incident publicly on August 10 at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly lobby, reiterating the council’s adherence to the SOPs and providing details about the operation [1, 4].