6 September 2001 Mr. Mah Bow Tan Minister for National Development Ministry of National Development 5 Maxwell Road #21-00 & #22-00 Tower Block MND Complex Singapore 069110 Dear Minister, SECTION 3 OF THE HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT (ANIMALS) RULES We would like to bring to your attention an issue of public interest. The issue concerns the HDB policy on keeping of pets by HDB residents in accordance with section 3 of the Housing and Development (Animals) Rules. (Attachment 1) Specifically, we would like to request for a review of section 3 and in particular to allow HDB residents to keep their pet cats subject to certain guidelines. 2. By way of introduction, the Cat Welfare Society (CWS) is a non-profit organisation registered in October 1999 under the Societies Act. We enclose our brochure, annual report and newspaper articles about the CWS for your information. (Attachment 2) 3. The Society is concerned about the management and welfare of cats in Singapore. Towards that objective, the Society has worked closely with government and statutory boards.

• The Agri-food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA). In October 2000, the AVA set up the Committee for Stray Cat Management with the objective of finding effective and humane ways of managing stray cats. Members of the Committee include representatives of AVA; Ministry of the Environment (ENV); the four Town Councils of Bishan-Toa Payoh, Jalan Besar, East Coast and Tanjong Pagar-West Coast; the Singapore Veterinary Association; the SPCA and the CWS. (Attachment 3)
• The Ministry of the Environment (ENV). CWS have met with ENV officials to find ways to solve the problem of littering through the irresponsible feeding of stray cats by HDB residents and hawker centre customers. CWS has produced a brochure which is distributed to cat feeders to inform them how to feed stray cats responsibly. (Attachment 4)
• The Town Councils and HDB residents. CWS has been working with the five Town Councils of Bishan-Toa Payoh, Jalan Besar, East Coast, Marine Parade and Tanjong Pagar-West Coast, and the HDB residents to implement various programmes aimed at keeping the environment pleasant for the HDB residents and managing the problem of stray cats responsibly.
• Singapore 21 Facilitation Committee. CWS gave a presentation at the Singapore 21@ Work Conference on how government can play a bigger role in promoting animal welfare in Singapore, and the link between animal abuse and violence towards other people. (Attachment 5)

4. We would like to request a meeting with your Ministry's officials to discuss section 3 with a view to a revision of the section so as to allow for the keeping of pet cats by HDB residents. The request is made based on the following factors.

• There is discrimination in the present policy. Under the existing section 3, HDB residents are allowed to keep pet dogs but not pet cats.
• Many HDB residents who have pet cats have given us feedback and they are unhappy that HDB have sent them letters requesting them to remove their pet cats or else face a fine.
• Studies have shown that people, especially the elderly and children can benefit greatly from having pet cats. Besides providing companionship, pets help owners to relieve stress after a long day at work. This is very beneficial in our fast-paced, high- achievement world. The important therapeutic benefits of pets, and the corresponding decrease in medical costs, are increasingly being recognised (Attachment 6). Public awareness events have been launched. For example, the CWS launched the recent Pet Therapy programme with the support of the Northeast CDC, and the People's Association organised the Pet Wellness event last year. (Attachment 7)
• Four significant demographic changes in our population critically increase the need for a review of the policy. These are: more people living in HDB apartments, an aging population, smaller families and more singles. The HDB ruling deprives an increasing proportion of our population of the benefits and joys of having a cat as a pet.
• Veterinarians and people familiar with the characteristics of pets agree that cats make good apartment pets if they are sterilised and properly confined. They are quiet, clean and easy to maintain.
• If cats can be kept as pets in HDB flats, people can adopt stray cats and this will in time reduce the number of stray cats in public areas and food centres. In the long term, the costs incurred by AVA, Town Councils and ENV in trapping and culling stray cats will decrease.

5. The CWS is drafting a proposal for the consideration of the Ministry. Briefly, our proposal contains suggested measures on how to manage the pet cats by HDB residents and to provide guidelines for HDB to consider. The CWS will be prepared to assist the HDB through educational programmes and on the ground contacts with HDB residents to ensure that the guidelines are adhered to. The CWS will be prepared to assist the HDB in any mediation efforts to resolve disputes over the management of pet cats by HDB residents. We would appreciate it if you could respond favourably to our request. Thank you. Yours faithfully, Jean Lau President, CWS