KUALA LUMPUR — The proposed 1:9.6 plot-ratio redevelopment of Wisma Damansara could put more than 70 stray dogs at risk of displacement, raising concerns about animal welfare in Bukit Damansara.
Speaking to Scoop, animal activist and long-time resident Farah Zara Abdul Karim described the situation as “quite severe.”
“We have the Bukit Damansara Animal Community, where we feed the animals and carry out TNR — Trap, Neuter, Release.
“Many dogs rely on vacant plots for shelter. Now, construction has begun on this site, and authorities are asking us to remove these dogs,” she said when met after the Bukit Damansara residents’ engagement session with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) at the Bukit Damansara Community Centre today.
Farah said relocation is not straightforward.
“Shelters charge around RM700 per dog. With more than 70 dogs in this area alone, how do we find the funding?
“When these dogs are displaced, they wander, complaints increase, and DBKL intervenes. Often, after being picked up, the animals either die from illness or are euthanised,” she said.
She added that the impact goes beyond dogs.
“It’s not just dogs. Monkeys, cobras, snakes — even monitor lizards — are increasingly appearing in residential areas.
“My house never had a monitor lizard before, and now one has entered my compound. This is not just about humans. Animals are also God’s creatures,” Farah said.
Despite the challenges, she remains hopeful for solutions.
“Development will continue, but perhaps authorities or sponsors can help relocate these dogs or provide alternative land. At the very least, there should be more leniency — TNR works.
“Once trapped, neutered, and released, the dogs are calm and manageable,” she said.
The engagement session was also attended by Bukit Damansara Residents Association chairman Datuk Ahmad Suffian Abdul Majid, Setia Kasih Bukit Damansara Residents Association president Zuhairah Ali, and former MITI industrial division assistant director Datuk Bhupat Rai Premji.
Farah highlighted the urgent need for collaboration among residents, authorities, and sponsors to prevent a welfare crisis as development progresses.
The community is currently crowdfunding to move the affected dogs into shelters, but Farah stressed that the effort is limited.
“We are raising funds wherever possible, but if more areas undergo development, I genuinely don’t know what will happen next,” she said. – November 16, 2025