We refer to the Malaysiakini report Pulau Ketam dogged by stray canines.

In light of the public outcry over the 300 stray dogs whom Pulau Ketam residents apparently dumped on an uninhabitable mud flat filled with mangrove trees and poisonous snakes, we hope that Pulau Ketam will switch to humane methods of animal control.

Abandoning domesticated animals anywhere - but especially in an environment as harsh as the one where these dogs were apparently dumped - is extremely cruel.

It virtually ensures that they will suffer slow, agonising deaths from exposure, dehydration, starvation, injuries, and/or attacks by other animals.

Simply dumping these dogs somewhere else doesn't solve the problem of stray dogs on the streets of Pulau Ketam, either.

Until residents take seriously the need to spay and neuter their animals, there will always be homeless dogs and cats roaming the streets.

A much more effective way of getting strays off the streets would be to pass a spay/neuter ordinance and open low-cost spay/neuter clinics.

Each of us can help prevent more animals from ending up like these unfortunate dogs by always having our animals spayed or neutered, and by adopting homeless animals from shelters or rescuing them from the streets. Learn more here .

The writer is attached to the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta), Asia-Pacific.