Animal lovers call teen's ad for dog cruel

Photos of dog posted online by student shows animal in poor health and condition
Liew Hanqing, The New Paper 24 Apr 09;

IT WAS a brief advertisement to sell a dog on a local classifieds website.

But the ad, posted by a 15-year-old student, caused a stir online after pictures of the dog were leaked.

In pictures posted on the forums, the dog is shown locked in a small cage. Its fur looks dirty and matted.

The write-up on the advertisement describes the dog as 'a one-year-old female' which 'does not bark much'.

Incensed members of several local forums posted the student's personal information - including his photos and his mobile phone number - over forum threads.

The message board on the student's blog has also been filled with angry messages from netizens.

One wrote: 'You evil boy. Don't treat a dog like a commodity.'

Another added: 'I hope your parents treat you like a dog, so you know how it feels.'

In the ad, the student had written: 'Hi. I have a schnauzer for sale. It will look good after grooming. I will include its cage, leash and a small bag of food.'

The list price of the dog was $200.

The link to the ad was posted on several local pet forums and caught the eye of Ms Regina Low, 31, who e-mailed the student for a set of pictures of the dog.

Shocked by the dog's condition, Ms Low decided to investigate. She arranged to meet the student on 17 Apr, assuring him that she was a genuinely interested buyer.

Animal welfare alerted

She was accompanied by an officer from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

She told The New Paper: 'The dog was in a horrendous state - it was dirty and it smelled. She was very skinny - we could feel her rib cage and bones.

'It obviously had not been bathed or groomed for a very long time. The nails were long and the fur was badly matted.

'The teeth were stained with tartar and it was badly infested with ticks.'

Ms Low, a marketing manager, said she had decided to contact SPCA because she 'didn't want the boy to get away scot-free'.

'By that I don't mean punishment - if I were to pay him $200, warn him, and go, this would only encourage him to continue with his deeds,' said Ms Low.

Ms Low added that she had come across another ad the student had posted, wanting to adopt a dog for free.

In one ad The New Paper found, the student said he was looking to adopt a Jack Russell Terrier.

He wrote: 'SMS me if you have one up for adoption. It must be free.'

Recalled Ms Low: 'The SPCA officer, who was there with me, questioned the boy (about the schnauzer). The boy replied that the dog was already in this state when he got it.

'This prompted me to ask why he didn't send it for medical treatment or grooming immediately. He remained silent.'

Responding to e-mail questions from The New Paper, the student claimed he had bought the dog for $200 several weeks after he first posted an ad looking for one.

He said: 'It belonged to a girl I didn't know. After I boughtthe dog from her, she changed her handphone number.'

He added that the dog was already in poor condition when he received it, but he 'did not notice it' at the time.

'The girl told me it was in healthy condition and that it was microchipped,' he said, adding that he had never owned a pet before.

Eager to adopt the dog, he said he accepted the dog on the spot, in its existing condition.

But he said he was forced to give up the dog shortly after when his parents objected.

He recounted the incident on his blog, which has since been locked with a password.

He wrote: 'My dog isn't microchipped, registered or sterilised - I bought it from somebody I don't know and now I'm selling it.

'I posted an ad and someone came to view it. She confirmed she would buy it on Friday.'

He said, however, that when the SPCA officer showed up, he realised that the meeting had been planned.

He wrote: 'I wonder why you all must do this? What can you gain by doing this? Are you trying to get a free dog and just pay for medication?

'Even if you're a dog lover, that dog is mine. Why must you all care? Now, $200 gone, dog gone.'

Ms Deirdre Moss, SPCA's executive officer, confirmed the dog is now with the SPCA and is being treated.

She added that the SPCA is investigating the matter.

Reflecting on the incident, Ms Low said profiteering at the expense of animal welfare should not be tolerated.

She said: 'Even if you wish to give up your pets for whatever reason or sell them, at least ensure that they are in good health and condition, and screen through the adopters or buyers.

'Always be prepared to take back ownership of the animal in the event that the new owner is unable to care for it.'

She added that she felt more should be done to educate students on pet ownership.

PENALTIES & RULES

UNDER the Animals and Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules, all dogs more than three months old must be licensed for rabies control.

A maximum of three dogs may be kept in private premises. Dog owners must seek written permission from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) to keep more than 3 dogs.

Current HDB rules allow only one dog of an approved breed per residential unit.

The dog must be implanted with a microchip, be leashed in public places and should not be allowed to stray.

A dog licence is valid for one year only and must be renewed before expiry. The renewal fee for a sterilised dog is $14 and $70 for an unsterilised dog.

Failure to comply with these requirements is an offence under the Animals and Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules and can result in the dog being impounded, a fine of up to $5,000, and the dog licence being revoked.

Visit www.ava.gov.sg for more details.