AS a volunteer of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for many years, I am offended by D.G.'s baseless comments (NST, April 23) that an alliance with Kuala Lumpur City Hall in setting up a spay/neuter clinic "does not augur well".

"Catch and destroy", the preferred method of controlling the stray dog population, carries a huge toll in terms of pain, suffering and trauma on the animals caught, not to mention the escalating financial costs associated with this method of operation.

City Hall deserves to be commended for setting up a subsidised spay/neuter clinic with SPCA.

Thousands of healthy dogs and cats are needlessly put to sleep every year because owners do not spay/neuter them due to, among others, negligence, procrastination, ignorance and saving expense.

SPCAs all over the world operate full-service veterinary clinics to serve the public, concentrating on subsidised spaying/neutering as the most effective and humane way to control animal populations.

Commercial enterprises are embarked upon with the main goal of creating profit and enhancing shareholder value with community service a distant second. By offering subsidised spaingy/neutering SPCA does not make a profit but instead provides a much needed service at a price most people can pay.

Tax-exempt status accorded to NGOs provides an added incentive to tax-paying citizens to donate for a good cause and this status is deemed as recognition by the Government of worthy services offered to benefit its citizens. To question our taxexempt status is not only senseless but also cruel.

CHRISTINE CHIN SPCA Selangor