Individual owners who sell or give away their dogs must also inform AVA that they are no longer keeping the dogs
Today Online 2 Feb 17;
SINGAPORE – From March 1, pet businesses must ensure that all dogs intended for sale are licensed by the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) before they are sold, the authority said on Tuesday (Jan 31). Pet businesses include pet importers, dog farms and pet shops.
To ensure that pet dogs continue to be licensed and traceable when they are sold, pet businesses must also transfer the ownership of the dogs to their new owners upon sale, which can be done using the AVA’s online Pet Animal Licensing System (PALS).
In addition, individual dog owners who sell or give away their dogs will have to inform AVA that they are no longer keeping the dogs. These owners will also be required to provide AVA with the particulars of the dog’s new owners, which can also be done using PALS.
The AVA announced plans last year to enhance the pet dog licensing regime. The authority said the relevant regulations had been amended on Tuesday and that the new measures would take effect from March 1.
The objective of these measures, said the AVA, is to improve the traceability of pet dogs in Singapore, especially in the event of a disease outbreak such as rabies. The new regulations could also help discourage pet abandonment and assist in reuniting lost dogs with their owners.
“We have received encouraging feedback thus far. Our stakeholders are receptive to, and are ready for this change,” said Ms Jessica Kwok, Group Director of AVA’s Animal Management Group. “Some of the businesses said that the change will reduce the amount of paper work and help them keep track of their sources, which is important for disease control. We will continue to engage our stakeholders and provide assistance where required, to ensure that the transition is smooth.”
According to the AVA, pet businesses will be able to register multiple dogs which are intended for sale under a single “group” dog licence. The licence fees will be tiered according to the number of dogs intended for sale by the pet business.
For example, the licence fee for one to 10 dogs is S$50 per annum, while the fees for having 101 to 200 dogs is S$1,000 per annum.
For more information, visit the AVA’s website at http://www.ava.gov.sg/e-services/pet-animals/dog-licencing-eservices or call the 24-hour hotline at 1800 476 1600.
