STRAY CATS AND DOGS

Ms Braema Mathiaparanam asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many (i) stray cats and (ii) stray dogs are put down every year; (b) how many (i) cats (owned and strays) and (ii) dogs (owned and strays) are sterilised each year; and (c) will the Ministry introduce a compulsory sterilisation facility for strays and hold civil society groups responsible for their well-being.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Each year, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) put down some 7,000 dogs and 13,000 cats.

On average, AVA and animal welfare groups sterilise about 3,700 stray cats and 1,000 stray dogs. More than 1,000 pet dogs are also sterilised a year. There is no figure available for number of pet cats sterilised per year as cats are presently not required to be licensed, and that sterilisation is done by private veterinarians. AVA encourages the sterilisation of pet dogs and cats through public education on responsible pet ownership. These efforts help to control the number of strays and abandoned animals in Singapore.

It is not possible to impose a compulsory sterilisation facility for all strays since, by definition, no one is directly responsible for them. Veterinarians in private practice are the main providers of sterilisation services for pet animals. The SPCA also provides sterilisation services for strays and issues vouchers to the public to facilitate sterilisation of strays at private clinics.

AVA's Centre for Animal Welfare and Control (CAWC) has provided sterilisation services for stray cats brought in by volunteers under the Stray Cats Rehabilitation Scheme (SCRS). In addition, their surgical facility at CAWC has been offered for use to more than 13 veterinarians who volunteer to sterilise stray cats for free. AVA's sterilisation services have been suspended for the time being pending the review of the SCRS in consultation with animal welfare groups, Town Councils and residents.

AVA is consulting with the stakeholders to identify long-term sustainable solutions to control strays in Singapore. These will need to be practicable and acceptable to the community at large. The animal welfare groups also have a responsibility to back up their sentiments with constructive action in shouldering the cost of caring for the well being of stray animals. One way would be to bid for land released for tender to set up and manage long-term animal boarding facilities for rounded up strays.