Even the simple gesture of touching a dog is forbidden in many conservative Muslim countries, such as Malaysia. Conservative Islamic groups follow the view that canines are unclean and those who have come into contact with them need to undergo a ritualistic wash.

But something incredible happened recently that changed public perception and the government’s long-held approach in this area.

On May 24, a video of an Ipoh City Council worker shooting a dog went viral on social media. It immediately stirred up an outcry from animal welfare groups and across the community.

Now the local government has pledged to work with animal welfare groups to find a better and more humane approach in stray dog population control.

Animal welfare groups believe culling is ineffective, especially as a way to prevent rabies and improve public health and safety. Many believe the best way is by ensuring a healthy population of sterilised and vaccinated dogs.

The most encouraging development in improving dog welfare has come from none other than the Ipoh local government, who has reacted to the latest backlash by moving swiftly in the direction of using humane methods to control street dog populations.

This city, which used to think that using a bullet that costs about HK$4 to put down a stray dog is the only hassle-free method, has now embraced a completely different method of TNR – “trap, neuter, and release” – to curb the stray population.

Hong Kong’s real-life Isle of Dogs, and the volunteers who help care for them

Hong Kong needs a strong voice like Ricky Soong, president of Ipoh Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), who has been pushing for this approach for years.

Soong believes dogs – provided they have been vaccinated and healthy – that are allowed to live outside shelters are happier than those locked mostly in cramped conditions due to limited space.

Under the ISPCA TNR programme, after being neutered each dog will be tagged with a red collar and a number, along with a microchip containing information such as data of the feeders and guardians for better identification. Ipoh is the first in Malaysia to conduct this programme citywide.

Although Hong Kong has a seemingly humane approach to controlling its stray dog population, euthanasia is still the end-of-the-road solution. And more often than not, strays are cruelly treated during the catching process.

Decomposing bodies of dogs and cats found at New Territories animal shelter

We need to take a leaf out of the book of Taiwan, which has a no-kill policy for all stray dogs.

Such strays are not a new problem locally. We have been trying to control their population for decades. There are so many better ways to resolve this. We just need to choose one with compassion rather than convenience.

If we want to contribute to bettering the stray dog problem, then we can make a difference by making a small change: adopt don’t shop.

There are innumerable strays out there that need a good home and ultimately, a loving family.

So, rather than spend money on a puppy for your loved one or your family, go to your local shelter and give a deserving animal a home to call its own.

Plus, by purchasing a puppy, you may be unknowingly supporting the puppy farm trade.

These dogs are bred purely for the purpose of making money, and more often than not the puppies are crammed into tiny cages, fed the bare minimum, and neglected.

And there are well-meaning people out there who may buy a puppy for Christmas before realising the true cost of owning one. As a result, they give up the puppy to a shelter, and the cycle continues.

Remember: dogs are our companions, our family members, and sometimes they are like our children, who give us unconditional love. They give us so much in terms of love and support.

The least we can do is honour their good spirit and loyalty, and in return give them good health and freedom.

Luisa Tam is a correspondent at the Post