Animal welfare code could be in place next year

Channel NewsAsia 17 May 13;

SINGAPORE: An animal welfare code that spells out the do's and don'ts of pet care could be in place next year.

That means owners who don't provide proper shelter, food or leave their sick pets untreated can be punished.

Activists are asking authorities to go one step further and set up an animal police force to investigate and nab offenders.

For now, a national microchip database is in the works although it may take some time to implement it.

Yeo Guat Kwang, chairman of Animal Welfare Legislation Review, said: "It is very straightforward in the sense to say that if any owner or person in charge of the animal or pet does not take good care of the animal, they can be taken to task."

- CNA/fa