Esther Ng, TODAY Channel NewsAsia 6 Jul 11;
SINGAPORE: After 27 years of lobbying for animal welfare, Ms Deirdre Moss - the face of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) - will be stepping down as its executive director on August 1. That role will be taken up by Ms Corrine Fong, 47, a financial advisory representative.
Ms Moss, 59, said her initial plan was to retire but is in discussions with SPCA's management committee to remain at the society as a freelance consultant and adviser.
"I'm still deciding what I'm going to do next but I'm leaving on a positive note. Things are coming up for animal welfare - many groups and individuals are working in tandem with the Government to improve the environment," she said.
SPCA chairman Carla Barker said the change comes as part of the organisation's succession planning, which was initiated when Ms Moss informed the management committee of her pending retirement at the end of last year.
Ms Barker added that the management committee had unanimously selected Ms Fong based on her track record and experience as volunteer and former board member, as well as her strong executive and personal qualities.
Ms Fong started out volunteering at the SPCA as a kennel helper and then as an animal adoption counsellor and management committee member.
She said: "My top priority is to promote animal welfare and ensure this work is supported with accountable processes and procedures by SPCA and the government agencies which deal with animal welfare. I also intend to collaborate and work very closely with other animal welfare agencies to raise the profile of these vulnerable creatures with the authorities."
The issues include the culling of stray dogs and cats, pet abandonment and abuse and "harsher penalties for unscrupulous breeders".
Ms Fong said: "We will continue to work with conscientious breeders but for those unscrupulous ones, we think the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority and licensing bodies can come down harder on them and step up checks on these breeders."
She aimed to move the organisation forward by strengthening its reputation and capabilities and encouraging greater efficiency, accountability and sustainability, she said.
