Public Perspectives on Strays and Companion Animal Management in Malaysia

Abstract

Strays and companion animal management is a sensitive issue in Malaysia that incites solid and conflicting views. Through structured questionnaires administered to a random sample of 704 respondents, this study explored public opinion on a) causes of the stray animal population, b) the management of the stray animal population, and c) the national strategy on strays and companion Animal Management. The results show that 70.3% of respondents agreed that a lack of public awareness regarding animal care was the major contributor to the stray animal population. In addition, 58.1% of respondents felt that treating and vaccinating animals exposed to zoonotic diseases is a viable approach that could be instituted as a conceivable measure in stray animal population management. Finally, developing animal protection areas through a multi-stakeholder partnership strategy initiative recorded the highest support (48.4%) for intervention planning for stray animal management at a national level. Notably, a significant percentage of public responses were implicitly influenced by demographic variables. These findings provide valuable insights into public opinion regarding stray and companion animal management in Malaysia. These findings could inform the development of future legislation aimed at reducing the unfavorable effects of stray animal populations on humans and the ecology of Malaysia.

Exploring Consumers’ Perception of Farm Animal Welfare in Muar, Johor

“…The public perspective on strays and companion animal management in Malaysia also sheds light on the societal attitudes towards animal welfare and the treatment of animals in the country (Munir et al, 2023). Understanding these perspectives is crucial for developing effective strategies for animal welfare management and addressing the challenges associated with stray animal populations.…”