Over 100 stray dogs threaten residents

ALOR STAR: The residents of Taman Low Ju Huat and Taman Jaya Kami near Cowboy Market here, are getting anxious and uneasy with the presence of over 100 stray dogs at the housing areas.
A resident of Taman Low Ju Huat, Mahadzir Hashim, 60, said the number of the stray dogs had grown since early this year and the dogs were making their houses as sleeping and gathering places.
"Among the main factors for the growing number of the stray dogs is that there are irresponsible people who leave their dogs at the abandoned building opposite to the market.
"The situation is exacerbated when there are people giving food to the stray dogs and this attracts the dogs to gather in this area," said Mahadzir who has been living in Taman Low Ju Huat for the past 20 years.
He said the presence of the stray dogs not only threatened the safety of residents especially children and senior citizens but it also resulted in the foul smell from the rubbish bins that had been ransacked by the dogs and the faeces left by the dogs at their house compounds.
"The sounds of the dogs barking especially during the night also disturb our children in their studies," he said.
Meanwhile, a housewife Aizam Ahmad, 45, said her children were always being chased by the stray dogs and they were afraid to go outdoors.
"Sometimes we need to use firecrackers to drive the dogs away," she said. — Bernama