Report by committee on animal welfare laws will be presented to the Government soon
David Ee Straits Times 11 Nov 12;
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.
