The project to control proliferation of stray dogs in Jurong Island of Singapore has borne results as 70 per cent of the pack has been sterilised. The project has also earned appreciation as it does not involve culling of the dogs.
The success rate has been achieved with Trap-Neuter-Release-and-Manage (TNRM) programme which is a partnership between JTC corporation and animal welfare groups including Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), Save our Street Dogs (SOSD) and Action for Singapore Dogs.
In the TNRM programme, dogs are first trapped and kept in a holding area. After that, they are sterilised and shifted to another holding area. Here, they are cared, socialised and rehabilitated to assess if they can be rehomed.
Some dogs are released on the island after sterilisation while others are rehomed.
Interestingly, a total of 168 of 504 neutered dogs have found new homes with the help of animal welfare groups.
JTC’s director of facilities and estates management Mark Koh said, “We are glad that this partnership with the animal welfare groups … together with the full support from companies on Jurong Island, has enabled us to better manage the stray dog situation on Jurong Island and prevent it from affecting those working there.”