ABANDONED PETS

Dr Teo Ho Pin asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many pets were abandoned each year; (b) what measures are being taken to address this problem; and (c) whether his Ministry will support the renting of pets by shops.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Every year, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) receive 19,000 dogs and cats. These are abandoned animals and their offspring.

The Animals and Birds Act was amended in July 2002. An owner who abandons his pet without reasonable cause may be fined up to $10,000 or jailed up to 12 months or both. As it is difficult to catch an owner in the act of abandoning his pet, AVA is studying the feasibility of requiring pets to be micro-chipped to facilitate identification of pets and their owners.

Meanwhile, AVA inculcates responsible pet ownership through its public education programme such as giving talks and exhibitions in schools, libraries and public events, as well as producing educational pamphlets. AVA also enlists the community's participation to control stray dogs and cats through sterilisation and proper management.

AVA does not support the renting of pets as it compromises the welfare of the animals. An animal that is rented out constantly faces different environment and new owners which cause stress and suffering to the animal. AVA had investigated the shop reported in the press as offering a rent-a-pet scheme. This shop allows owners to exchange the animal for another that is more suitable within a certain time period. The shop has since stopped using the misleading term "rent". Annex - Singaporeans who did not qualify for ERS (Cols. 2273 - 2274)