REDUCING NUMBERS OF ABANDONED PETS

REDUCING NUMBERS OF ABANDONED PETS

1.

Dr Lam Pin Min asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the number of abandoned pets in Singapore over the past three years and how are they managed; (b) what efforts has AVA taken to control the abandoning of pets; and (c) how many cases of cruelty to animals were reported and their perpetrators persecuted over the past three years.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: The number of abandoned pets reported to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) is only a handful each year. This is probably not a complete record as not all cases are referred to AVA. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD) also pick up animals suspected to be abandoned. On its part, AVA will follow up whenever it receives feedback of alleged abandonment of pets. Offenders will be prosecuted or fined for allowing the dogs to stray if there is sufficient evidence.

It is important to have an effective long-term solution to curb pet abandonment. Since 2001, AVA has conducted school talks to inculcate in students a sense of responsible pet ownership. In 2004, AVA launched the Responsible Pet Ownership (RPO) Public Education Programme. Through its various roadshows, AVA aims to convey the key point that "A Pet is for Life" through the following messages:

– People should not buy a pet on impulse, but consider carefully the responsibilities that go with owning a pet;

– Pet owners should be considerate and ensure that their pets do not create problems for their neighbours (eg, leash their pets in public place, clean up after their pets and minimise noise pollution);

– Pet owners should sterilise their pets to prevent unwanted litters; and

– Pet owners should not abandon their pets but be committed to them for life.

AVA also works closely with various NGOs such as SPCA on public education to reduce pet abandonment. AVA supports the NGOs in their campaigns to promote sterilisation of pet cats and dogs to reduce the cases of abandonment of unwanted puppies and kittens.

In addition, AVA has revised the Animals and Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules to require all newly licensed dogs from September 2007 to be microchipped. This will help AVA trace and return lost dogs to owners. Animal abandonment is considered a serious offence under the Animals and Birds Act and carries a maximum penalty of $10,000 fine or imprisonment of 12 months or both.

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AVA receives about 350 cases of feedback(1) per year on alleged animal cruelty. AVA investigates all feedback and will prosecute an offender if there is sufficient evidence and witnesses are willing to testify in Court to the alleged offence. AVA has successfully prosecuted two cases and fined five other offenders in the last three years.

(1) 361 cases in 2009 (January-November), 377 cases in 2008, 292 in 2007.