Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor (centre) officiates the Johor Smart City Forum 2026 at the Tuanku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre in Pasir Gudang on August 13, 2026. — Picture by Ben Tan
By Ben Tan
First Published: Thursday, 13 Aug 2026 2:30 PM MYT
PASIR GUDANG, Aug 13 — The Johor government plans to adopt the Netherlands’ widely cited approach to managing stray animals, including sterilisation, shelter care and adoption.
State Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the state government would work with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to address the stray dog and cat population.
“For stray dogs, the approach is similar to the one implemented in the Netherlands where the authorities spays the animal to eliminate unwanted litters, in addition to taking care of their welfare in terms of nutrition.
“So, the plan is to work closely with the NGOs that will place these stray dogs in a dedicated shelter instead of leaving them abandoned and emaciated,” he told reporters after attending the Johor Smart City Forum 2026 at the Tuanku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre here today.
Mohd Jafni said the stray dogs would be neutered and properly cared for before being offered for adoption.
He said the state government welcomed the proposal and was prepared to work with relevant organisations.
At present, he said only the Johor Bahru City Council has a shelter for stray dogs in the district.
He said dogs caught by the council would be fed, treated and cared for before being offered for adoption.
“I will personally visit the shelter this September as I was told the facilities are almost ready,” he said.
Mohd Jafni said interactions with animal lovers during a previous campaign had also prompted suggestions for local authorities to take a more structured approach to managing stray dogs and cats.
He said this would require long-term efforts combining animal welfare measures with shelter care and adoption support.
The Netherlands has been widely credited with eliminating stray dogs from its streets through legislation and subsidised sterilisation programmes.
Its approach to managing stray dogs has been widely cited as a model for other countries, although free-roaming and feral cats remain an ongoing animal welfare and ecological challenge there.
