By Husnina Zahra Hadri
SERDANG, 22 April – The Dogathon 2026 programme, organised by third-year students from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), recently played a significant role in raising public awareness of animal welfare through educational initiatives, community engagement, and student participation.
The Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FPV), UPM, Goh Yong Meng, said that the programme not only focused on animal welfare but also emphasised the balance between humans, animals, and the environment.
“This programme is centred on how we can interact responsibly with animals and the environment. It is not just about animal welfare, but also involves ecosystem balance and human responsibility,” he said.
He added that awareness of animal welfare must be accompanied by responsibility, including understanding the risks of zoonotic diseases and the humane management of stray animals.
“This directly benefits the community and serves as an important learning platform for veterinary students, particularly in managing large-scale programmes and developing clinical skills,” he said.
Programme Director I, Tan Ji Xiu, said the programme had a direct impact on efforts to safeguard animal welfare through community involvement.
“Through this programme, we bring together animal lovers, and registration fees will be channelled towards ‘trap, neuter, and release’ initiatives to control the population of stray animals around UPM,” he said.
In addition, the programme also helped enhance professional skills among veterinary students.
Programme Director II, Goh Hui Yi, said the programme not only helped students master communication skills but also strengthened collaboration with various external parties.
“Collaboration with agencies such as Majlis Bandaraya Subang Jaya (MBSJ) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has also increased awareness about the importance of pet adoption and responsible pet licensing,” she said.
The programme received encouraging participation, particularly from animal lovers who viewed it as an important platform for pet socialisation.
Participant Puvaneswari Jeyapalan said the programme provided an opportunity for pets to interact and adapt to different environments and other animals.
“This programme is excellent as we can interact with many people and dogs, as well as make new friends through these activities,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dogathon 2026 visitor Nurul Najwa Mohd Amin said such programmes should continue to create spaces for pets to socialise.
“Programmes like this are important because places for dogs to interact are still limited. At the very least, they have a space to meet and socialise with other animals,” she said.
The programme, held at the faculty, brought together about 800 participants comprising university members and the public, featuring various activities such as a “Dog Race,” veterinary consultations, animal exhibitions, and a K9 unit demonstration.
.jpg)
