Animal shelters in Pasir Ris to move by end-2017

Audrey Tan, The Straits Times AsiaOne 15 Oct 16;

It may be one of the largest animal "migrations" across the island.

By the end of next year, more than 1,000 stray or abandoned dogs and about 800 cats housed in shelters in Pasir Ris Farmway will have to leave. The authorities want the land for industrial development.

The dogs, which make up the bulk of rescued ones here, will likely move to Sungei Tengah in Kranji, where the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is located.

Tenants of Pasir Ris Farmway were told by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) in a letter last week, which The Straits Times has seen, that the land must be returned to SLA by Dec 31 next year.

The Straits Times understands that SLA has been sending letters monthly to tenants about the Dec 2017 deadline since July.

But it did not provide details on when the Sungei Tengah sites will be available for tender or how big the plots are, causing uncertainty for the animal welfare groups.

"The process of bidding for the land and waiting to be successfully awarded will take time," said Mr Derrick Tan, president of Voices For Animals, which has more than 100 dogs.

"Preparations and building a new shelter will take months. If all these are not done in time, the animals have no place to go."

In a joint statement to The Straits Times, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and SLA said details of the tender will be provided when ready.

There are 14 farms in Pasir Ris - eight are ornamental fish farms, five are pet farms and one is a food fish farm. There are seven animal welfare groups - including Voices For Animals, Animal Lovers League and SOSD - located in some of these farms, said the authorities.

Individual volunteers, who are not affiliated with any groups, also house rescued animals in commercial boarding facilities there.

Housewife Lee Lee Sim, 54, who rescued three dogs from the streets, said: "For me, I can find another commercial boarder to house them, but what about the animal welfare groups with more dogs?"

Cost is another issue.

Dr Siew Tuck Wah, president of animal welfare group SOSD, which cares for about 100 dogs, said AVA officers had suggested to him during preliminary discussions that the new shelters should be at least two-storey high.

But multi-storey shelters are more expensive to build, said Animal Lovers League founder Cathy Strong. With at least 300 dogs and 200 cats, Animal Lovers League is the largest shelter in Pasir Ris.

To give a rough idea of cost, SPCA's single-storey facility in Sungei Tengah cost $7 million, Ms Strong pointed out.

She added: "Our operating cost is already at least $60,000, which we have to pay every month on top of the construction fees. Where will we get the money from?"

Voices For Animals' Mr Tan said that while it would be more ideal for dogs to be given more space to run about in the sun, a multi-storey shelter in land-scarce Singapore could work. He added that there were such shelters in London.

The affected animal welfare groups in Pasir Ris also worry whether they can afford to compete with commercial entities, such as pet farms, in a tender, which could push up prices.

They have twice submitted proposals to the Ministry of National Development (MND) for animal welfare groups to bid for land under a separate category from commercial entities. An MND spokesman told The Straits Times that it is considering their request.

Dr Siew said: "They have not gotten back to us. The situation is urgent. All we ask for is an answer. If we do not get more information soon, moving out by next year is not a viable option."


Animals at Pasir Ris shelters won't be left stranded: MP
Audrey Tan, Straits Times AsiaOne 18 Oct 16;

Rescued animals housed in Pasir Ris Farmway will not be left stranded when their shelters are moved at the end of next year, according to Mr Louis Ng, an MP for Nee Soon GRC.

He gave this assurance to volunteers last Saturday during a dialogue on animal welfare held at Nee Soon East Community Club.

Participants raised concerns following a Straits Times report that some 1,000 stray and abandoned dogs and 800 cats will have to leave the area as the authorities want the land for industrial development.

But Mr Ng, who founded wildlife rescue group Animal Concerns Research and Education Society, stopped short of giving details on a solution for the seven animal welfare groups in the area.

When contacted, Mr Ng would say only that the Ministry of National Development will announce plans at a later date.

Tenants of Pasir Ris Farmway were told by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) in a letter on Oct 4 that the land must be returned to SLA by Dec 31 next year.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority and the SLA later told The Straits Times in a joint reply that alternative sites in Sungei Tengah will be made available for interested parties to tender.

But the authorities did not provide details on when the Sungei Tengah sites will be available for tender or how big the plots are, causing uncertainty for the animal welfare groups, which worry that new shelters will not be able to be built by the deadline.

Mr Derrick Tan, president of Voices For Animals, one of the affected animal welfare groups, said volunteers will be assured that their animals "will not be left stranded" only when they are presented with concrete plans.

Dr Siew Tuck Wah, president of SOSD, another animal welfare group, said: "The animals will not be left stranded, but the question is how much we have to pay for them to have a place in Singapore.

"If the animal welfare groups are made to rent from commercial farms, there will be no guidelines on the rental price.

"And if shelters are expected to be at least two storeys, it is natural that the rental will increase. By how much, we do not know."