KUALA LUMPUR, May 8 — A dog shelter in Malacca is overwhelmed by the sudden spike in the number of  abandoned dogs, after stricter ownership laws were enforced early this year under two councils in the state.

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Malacca chairman Vincent Low told The Star daily that more dogs were abandoned at its Semambok canine shelter following new rules for dog owners imposed by the Malacca Historical City Council (MBMB) and the Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council (MPHTJ).

“The SPCA is facing a dire need of financial help because this overcrowding has caused us to fork out an additional allocation to take care of the well-being of these dogs,” he said.

An official from MBMB told The Malay Mail Online that the yearly licence fee had gone up from RM10 to RM50.

The fee, however, remains at RM10 if the dogs are neutered.

The council used to allow two dogs for terrace houses, but now only the corner lot is allowed to have one.

In semi-detached houses, the council only allows two dogs down from three.

Meanwhile, residents living in bungalows or kampung houses are allowed to have up to three dogs down from four.

Additionally neighbours need to sign a consent form before the owner can apply for the licence.

Low told The Star that the SPCA and a group of dog owners had submitted letters to both councils protesting against the new by-laws.

“We have asked the council to lower the fee structure for dog owners and have proposed a reasonable price,” he said, adding that the association is not against the authorities punishing irresponsible dog owners who allow their vicious dogs to roam free.

He suggested that state government start an awareness campaign to educate owners on the importance of sterilising their pets before enforcing the new fee.

“Another ruling of obtaining consent letter from dog owners’ neighbours should also be nullified as it infringes on the owners’ right of having a pet at home,” Low said.

Malacca councils are not the only ones with the condition to obtain permission to own a dog from its neighbours.

A quick check by the The Malay Mail Online showed that the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), and the JB City Council (MBJB), among others, have imposed the criteria.

The MBMB official acknowledged that there have been protests to the new ruling but the city council is not considering any amendments at the moment.

Most city councils only impose a RM10 fee for the licence, except MBJB which charges RM25 for males and spayed females, and RM45 for non-spayed females.

Most also do not allow owning a dog in a high-rise except for the KL City Council (DBKL), which allows with the permission of the management and neighbours.

Under DBKL, only one dog is allowed at any residential area of less than 300 square metres and a maximum of two dogs for anything bigger.

According to its web site, the MBSA also has similar ruling, with a maximum of two dogs allowed in bungalows, semi-detached, and at corner terrace units.

Meanwhile, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) allows two dogs at residential areas of less than 1,000 square metres and a maximum of four dogs for anything bigger.

The JB City Council limits up to four dogs in a bungalow, two for semi-detached houses and one for each terrace unit.