Higher fines, longer jail term for animal abusers proposed

Tan Qiuyi Channel NewsAsia 1 Mar 13;

SINGAPORE: The Animal Welfare Legislative Review Committee is calling for heavier penalties for animal abuse and abandonment.

After a year-long review, the committee has submitted its recommendations to the National Development Ministry for consideration.

The current penalty for animal abuse is a fine of up to S$10,000, one year in jail, or both.

The committee calls for a more detailed penalty structure that differentiates the intent and severity of the offence, with the maximum penalty for repeat and malicious cases going up to S$50,000, three years' jail and a one-year ban on keeping animals.

At the same time, the proposal calls for higher penalties for businesses - between S$20,000 and S$100,000, and a ban on animal-related business for up to a year.

The Animal Welfare Legislative Review Committee said the objective is to send a strong message to deter wrongdoers.

Ricky Yeo, president of Action for Singapore Dogs, said: "The higher penalties of course may pose a deterrent to would-be offenders. But I think what's important really is enforcement.

"To move forward, there has to be some priority assigned to prosecution of this kind of cases - which means lots of investigations, and to do that I think logistically, the authorities need a lot more manpower. This is something the animal welfare groups can be empowered to help."

Most people Channel NewsAsia spoke to support the call for harsher penalties.

Another key proposal is to legally require all staff in all pet businesses to be appropriately trained in animal care and handling.

The committee is recommending regulation for all commercial pet breeding activities, and for all pet boarding facilities to be licensed.

It also wants to see pet shops screen potential buyers to ensure pets are sold to responsible and committed owners.

Mr Chua Ming Kok, who represents the Pet Enterprises and Traders Association of Singapore in the committee, said: "There will definitely be some resistance from the smaller players.

"But we'll have in place schemes to train them, to try to help them come on board this scheme. The major players in the industry have already given their consensus to be on this scheme."

George Tan, who owns Joy Doggy, a small pet shop which sells puppies, said: "Overall, the recommendations are OK. The main concern is about staff training. The turnover rate for my staff is very high, it's going to be very, very difficult for me financially to send them for training.

"If, let's say, there is a free course ... conducted by the government for us, I'll be most willing to send my staff in for training because it really will raise the standard of the industry."

Committee chairman Yeo Guat Kwang said their job is far from over.

"It's not a job that's been done. We definitely need to do more. But let's take one step at a time, and with this big step forward, I'm confident many other suggestions which are practical and reasonable will definitely also be taken into consideration in future," he said.

The committee's report details 24 recommendations in total, including a call to set a minimum age of 16 years for buying a pet. It is the result of a year-long review, including consultations with animal welfare activists, pet industry representatives, and the public.

Underpinning the recommendations is a call for interest groups on different sides of the animal welfare debate to work together.

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said his ministry will carefully study the recommendations.

In a blog post, he said his instinct is that the law may need to be updated.

- CNA/ck/xq

Tougher penalties proposed to MND for animal abusers
Sumita Sreedharan Today Online 1 Mar 13;

SINGAPORE — Harsher penalties for animal abuse, a minimum age and pre-sale screening for pet buyers — these are some of the recommendations of the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee, which submitted its report to the Ministry of National Development yesterday, following a year-long review.

Chaired by Member of Parliament (Ang Mo Kio GRC) Yeo Guat Kwang, the committee represents various stakeholders such as community leaders, animal welfare groups, vets and members from the pet industry.

It was formed last year as part of efforts to better protect animals, in light of continued abuse cases.

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who tasked Mr Yeo to chair the committee, said on his blog yesterday that his ministry will carefully study the committee’s recommendations and see how they can collectively raise the bar for animal welfare here.

“My instinct is that our law may need to be updated but this is an area which the Government alone cannot deliver a good outcome,” he noted.

Mr Yeo said he is confident that the report is feasible as it has input and support from stakeholders.

“It’s a practical and well-rounded report as we are able to address most of the concerns and, at the same time, everyone is on board,” he said.

One issue that the report addressed is the penalty for animal abuse.

Currently, the maximum fine for animal abuse is S$10,000 and a one-year jail term.

The committee recommended that the penalty be doubled for offenders who are deemed to have had malicious intent when hurting the animal. It also called for a maximum fine of S$50,000 and/or a three-year jail term to be imposed on repeat offenders.

Mr Yeo said these penalties are meant to send a strong deterrent message and are benchmarked against those in countries such as Australia and New Zealand.

According to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority, over the last three years, six cases of animal abuse were heard in court and the average fine imposed per offence charged was S$4,250. In three of these six cases, the offenders could not pay the fines and were jailed for five to 10 weeks.

A lack of leads and concrete evidence to prosecute cases of animal cruelty are factors that hamper efforts to reduce animal abuse, stated the report.

To address this, it recommended initiatives to encourage witnesses to step forward to assist in investigations and to testify in court.

Ms Veron Lau from the Cat Welfare Society welcomed the recommendations, but admitted that enforcement was a big barrier to cases proceeding to court.

“I would suggest having fines at more increments and allowing the authorities to have the power to fine people who, for example, do not pick up after their dogs or allow their cats to roam,” said Ms Lau.

Other recommendations include a minimum age of 16 for pet buyers in order to curb impulse buying, and that pet shops which do not comply face a fine of up to S$5,000.

Currently, there is no age limit for pet ownership.

The committee also recommended making it a requirement for all pet-related operators to be trained and for the licensing of commercial pet breeding activities and pet boarding facilities.

Animal welfare panel calls for stiffer fines, jail terms
David Ee Straits Times 1 Mar 13;

BIGGER fines, longer jail terms and screening of pet buyers were among a slew of recommendations submitted to the Government yesterday by a panel set up to review animal welfare laws.

The 11-member panel, chaired by MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC Yeo Guat Kwang, sent its widely anticipated report to the National Development Ministry yesterday after gathering public feedback and deliberating for a year.

It proposed introducing tiered penalties that take into account the intent of someone found guilty of ill-treating animals.

The current maximum penalty is a fine of up to $10,000 and/or a one-year jail term, but repeat or malicious offenders could soon be fined up to $50,000 and/or jailed for three years. They would also be barred from keeping pets for up to a year.

Those caught neglecting pets the first time would face the current penalty but would also have to perform community service with animal welfare groups.

Harsher penalties would be extended to pet shops and farms, which could be fined up to $100,000 and banned from operating for up to a year.

Animal abuse convictions should also be reported by the media and on social networks to act as a deterrent, the report added.

But Mr Yeo stressed that the panel, which also comprised animal welfare activists and industry representatives, sought preventive - not just punitive and deterrent - measures.

Its proposals for mandatory pre-sale screening of pet buyers, training staff at pet-related businesses and the stepping up of efforts to encourage responsible pet ownership were ways to "address the problem at the root", he said.

Screening pet buyers would help them make "informed decisions", added the report, and minimise impulse purchases.

The Pet Enterprises and Traders Association of Singapore, which has 61 members, has agreed to lead the forming of accreditation schemes for pet farms and breeders to spur them to improve standards. There are about 400 pet, accessories and grooming shops here.

"This is not an easy move for the industry, particularly as they worry about their bottom lines. But I'm glad we have come to a consensus and they understand that they have a key role to play," said Mr Yeo.

Animal welfare groups welcomed the report but said that without enforcement, proposed penalties would prove toothless.

Animal abuse cases handled by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals rose from 1,162 in 2007 to 1,426 in 2011, but during this period, warnings or fines were issued in only about 300 cases.

"Higher penalties alone won't deter people," said Mr Ricky Yeo, president of Action for Singapore Dogs. "The only way is successful prosecution. I didn't really see any enforcement framework emphasised in the report."

The police could support the AVA in investigations, suggested Ms Eunice Nah, chief advocate of the Agency for Animal Welfare.

Happy Paws pet shop owner Steven Ker, 40, said he would sign up to an accreditation scheme. He said: "If we do well, customers will see that we are a responsible shop. We may attract more customers."

Dog owner Gail Sethi, 49, supported publicising abuse convictions. "The only thing that will make them behave is prosecuting and shaming them," she said.

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in a blog post that the ministry would study the recommendations carefully. "My instinct is that our law may need to be updated," he wrote.

The report is available at http://www.mnd.gov.sg/AWLRCreport

Protecting Animal Welfare by Minister Khaw Boon Wan