Get tough on animal abuse

Panel calls for tougher penalties
Report by committee on animal welfare laws will be presented to the Government soon

By David Ee, The Straits Times, 11 Nov 2012

A committee reviewing animal welfare laws wants tougher penalties for animal abusers - individual culprits as well as those in the pet industry.

Senior Minister of State for National Development Tan Chuan-Jin said this is among the panel's recommendations to be presented to the Government for consideration soon.

"There are people in this society, unfortunately, who will ill-treat and mistreat animals. I do not think that is acceptable, so we need to see how we can step up on this front," he said.

The committee is also calling for action to ensure the reasonable care and welfare of animals, foster greater responsibility in the pet industry and among pet owners, and raise awareness of animal welfare.

Mr Tan said he supported strengthening laws to protect animals, but stressed that the action taken had to be balanced against the diverse interests of the community. While many animal lovers wanted action sped up on several fronts, he said, there were others who felt uncomfortable about having animals in their midst.

The Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee was set up earlier this year to review existing laws and gather public feedback. It is wrapping up its report, which will be sent to the National Development Ministry.

Panel members told The Sunday Times yesterday that they were unanimous in calling for stiffer fines and jail terms for abusers, as well as options to send those who mistreat animals to do community work with animal welfare groups.

"It is a very strong message," said panel member Corinne Fong, executive director of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

She said some pet lovers suggested caning animal abusers, and others wanted laws to ban certain practices in the pet industry, such as debarking - operating on dogs' vocal cords to reduce the volume of their barking. Such changes might be "difficult to enact", she said.

Committee chairman Yeo Guat Kwang, an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, said action should be taken against not only individual abusers, but also errant breeders and sellers.

They were speaking to The Sunday Times at the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) Responsible Pet Ownership roadshow at the Singapore Expo, which drew scores of pet owners with their dogs, cats, rabbits and birds.

There have been a number of recent developments focused on animal care, including pilot projects for the adoption of dogs and cats.

In his speech, Mr Tan noted efforts to encourage responsible pet ownership, saying it was important that owners do the right thing, as there are complaints of dog walkers not bagging dog poo.

"Little things like that go a long way in building confidence and social acceptance among non-pet lovers. At the same time, I think we would like neighbours to be considerate and tolerant," he said.

4 thrusts for recommendations by Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee
By Alice Chia, Channel NewsAsia, 10 Nov 2012

Recommendations to strengthen the current laws on animal welfare will be finalised soon.

The committee, which was set up in April, is chaired by Yeo Guat Kwang - a member of the Ministry of National Development's Government Parliamentary Committee and MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC.

The committee also comprises community grassroots leaders and representatives from the animal welfare groups, pet industry and the veterinary profession.

Acting Minister for Manpower and Senior Minister of State for National Development (MND), Tan Chuan-Jin, said the recommendations will be submitted to the MND in the coming months.

There will be four key aspects.

These are: ensuring reasonable care and welfare of animals; stepping up action against wrong-doers; fostering greater responsibility in the industry to ensure animal welfare; and fostering greater responsibility among pet owners and greater community awareness of animal welfare.

Mr Tan also highlighted a pilot project to allow HDB residents to adopt and re-home stray dogs in their flats.

Mr Tan said: "Certainly, I am keen to create this common space. So I think we need to work together and move forward at a pace that is comfortable for all concerned. For example, in HDB flats, we know that there are certain types of dogs that are approved. We are looking at, with this project, having medium-sized dogs, like mongrels, in our HDB estates."

Miko, a two-year-old mongrel, is one example. Once a stray dog roaming the streets, she has now been adopted by loving owners.

Adopters need to adhere to strict requirements, such as sending the dogs for training courses. 

President of Action for Singapore Dogs, Ricky Yeo, said: "We're extremely careful. We do a lot of background checks on the potential adopters, making sure that they have the right experience, right attitude about having a dog. We also check on their environment, like their neighbours, even their apartment and all, make sure that it's conducive. There is a whole framework that they have to abide by, including a code of responsible behaviour."

The owners themselves also need to be considerate to prevent disputes with other residents.

Sharon Lee, a dog owner, said: "When I bring her out for walk, I will make sure that children or our Malay neighbours are not in the lift. If they are, we will ask them to go ahead and we will take the next lift. We will try not to take the same lift, in case she scares them."

Another dog owner, Lester Teo, said: "We make it a point to always leash her, never to off-leash her. And there's no need to muzzle her because first, she's not an aggressive breed and she's very calm by nature as well. Other than that, we just keep her locked behind the doors when we are at home."

Under the project, 14 dogs have been adopted and re-homed.