CNA | May 17, 2013
Animal welfare code could be in place next year Tan Qiuyi
SINGAPORE: An animal welfare code spelling out the do’s and don’ts of how to care for a pet is one new addition to Singapore’s animal welfare law that authorities are working to put in place next year. The code is not just a guide for pet owners but more importantly, to allow authorities to punish those who are not caring properly for their pets. Countries like New Zealand and the UK have animal welfare codes that require pet owners to provide basic care for their animals. The basic care includes providing adequate shelter, proper food and water, and making sure a sick animal gets treated. Singapore will be adopting a similar code. 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. “It is very likely that we may develop something that is general but at the same time, put in some specific points for some popular pets like cats and dogs.” The law today mainly targets cruelty to animals, and only after these acts have been committed, rather than preventing animals from cruelty or poor conditions in the first place. Pet owners are also not required to care for their pets in any particular way. In tandem, authorities will be able to issue orders to pet owners to improve an animal’s well-being. Those who fail to comply could be punished or have their animals removed. Currently, enforcement officers can only remove animals if an offence has been reasonably suspected to have been committed. Activists said authorities should go further and consider setting up a dedicated animal welfare police to investigate and prosecute offenders. Registered volunteer groups could then be empowered to work with this team in their enforcement. “Without active enforcement measures, the laws that we have, however good, will just be theoretical,” said Assistant Professor Liew Kai Khium, who is a volunteer at the House Rabbit Society Singapore. Mr Yeo said Singapore cannot rely on enforcement and prosecution to solve the problem and address the issue. He explained: “It really needs to address the issue upstream, to ensure that even at the point of sale, the seller must have the responsibility to ensure someone who wants to keep a pet understands how to really take care of it, what they need to do and what they don’t.” Volunteers said defining ownership is a problem, especially in abandonment cases. Singapore’s animal welfare legislation resides in the Animal and Birds Act, which defines an owner as “any person for the time being in charge of any animal or bird and any person for the time being in occupation of any building”. The definition is broad but on the ground, it is often difficult to prove that someone owns a cat, for example. Shirley Goh, committee member of the Cat Welfare Society, said: “When there is a complaint related to cats roaming about the corridors, they will simply say, ‘No, these are not my cats, they are strays.’ How do you define ownership then?” In response, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said “direct and verifiable evidence that the person kept the animal and was in charge of it” is needed before officers can take action on alleged abandonment cases. Officers also need witnesses who are willing to testify in court. Volunteers said they would like to see more weight given to witness testimonies as photo or video evidence can be hard to come by. For instance, if a neighbour can confirm that an animal has been living with the person for years, has been fed, or goes in and out of the person’s house, this should be understood as ownership, said Ms Goh. “Should anything happen, like complaints or abandonment, shouldn’t they be responsible?” she added. There are plans to review the legal definition which can have an impact on current enforcement practices. “We understand the concerns about ownership,” said Mr Yeo, “But currently, the definition is to serve the purpose of the Animals and Birds Act, which covers a wide range of aspects including disease control. The committee is aware of this, that’s why we’re looking into whether we should review the ownership in terms of animal welfare.” Many agree licensing and micro-chipping a pet should be made compulsory, and the owner should bear the cost. Asst Prof Liew said: “That would help to promote a greater sense of accountability and responsibility, and to get people to think twice about a pet when all these costs are factored in.” The AVA is working on a national microchip database, but Channel NewsAsia understands its implementation will take time. Source: CNA
CNA | Apr 26, 2013
MND to raise animal welfare standards Tan Qiuyi
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of National Development (MND) has accepted all 24 recommendations proposed by the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee (AWLRC). The ministry said it would partner with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to work out detailed implementation plans and roll out the recommendations in phases. MND added that it also welcomes chairman of AWLRC Yeo Guat Kwang’s plans to table a Private Member’s Bill to amend the animal welfare legislation in the Animal and Birds Act as a follow-up to the committee’s recommendations. Mr Yeo said: “It marks a significant step for animal welfare in Singapore, as we will move on to more proactive and responsive legislation as well as instilling responsible and appropriate behaviour in all stakeholders who play a part in an animal’s life cycle.” Recommendations include the establishing of a minimum age for pet buyers – only those aged 16 or older will be allowed to buy a pet. This will also become a condition for the licensing of pet shops and pet farms selling pets. Executive director of Animal Concerns Research & Education Society, Louis Ng said: “What we’re pushing for now is an ethical progress, a moral progress rather than an economic one. We’re telling the seller that look, obviously there’re profits to be made, but you must make your profits ethically. So if you think this buyer who wants to buy your S$2,000 dog, cannot look after the dog properly, you shouldn’t sell.” Pet sellers said screening buyers is far from straightforward. Manager for corporate communications at Pet Lovers Centre, Timothy Loh said: “If I have somebody who’s above 16, walks in, is able to buy a pet, goes back and after that ill-treats the pet, or dumps the pet, that would also defeat the purpose. On the other hand, you can also have somebody who’s below 16, who’s very, very enlightened because the parents have taught him to be a responsible pet owner.” Non-governmental organizations said pet abandonment will continue to be a challenge, without an effective microchip system in place to trace pets to their owners. President of the Cat Welfare Society, Veron Lau said: “The people implementing will have to work with people on the ground, the officers and the volunteers dealing with all these cases, to work out how do you define pet ownership, how do you define abandonment, so that all these cases do not keep falling through the cracks.” Mr Yeo said: “I believe AVA will step up enforcement, but more importantly, I think we will review the legislative framework to ensure there’s greater clarity, so that moving forward, when it comes to enforcement and prosecution, it will be much easier for the agencies, as well as volunteers and the general public, to help us to play their part to be the eyes and ears to bring all those wrongdoers to task.” Tighter licensing rules for pet shops, which include adopting a minimum age and pre-sale screening for pet buyers, can be implemented in the next three to six months. While amendments to the law, which require tabling and debate in Parliament, are expected by early 2014. Also among the recommendations is a tiered penalty structure that differentiates the intent of the offender and nature of the offence. The committee has proposed different penalties for individuals and corporate bodies such as pet shops and farms. The current penalty is a maximum fine of S$10,000 and/or a 1 year jail term. The AWLRC has recommended that repeat malicious offenders of animal cruelty and abuse be given a maximum fine of S$50,000 and/or 3 years’ jail. The offender would also be prohibited from keeping animals for up to one year. The committee also proposed a new penalty for those with the deliberate or malicious intent of being cruel to an animal and for repeat offenders who fail to ensure adequate care; the recommendations call for a maximum fine of S$20,000 and/or 2 years’ jail. The offender would also be prohibited from keeping animals for up to one year. The proposed recommendations also call for first-time offenders who are reckless, ignorant or those who fail to provide care to the animals to be fined a maximum of S$10,000 and/or jailed for one year. The offender would also have to perform community service. Corporate bodies will also face stiffer penalties depending on the nature of the offence. Under the recommendations, repeat corporate offenders who commit wilful or cruelty cases can be fined up to S$100,000 and/or be prohibited from engaging in animal-related trade for up to one year. Wilful offenders and repeat offenders will face a maximum S$40,000 fine and/or be prohibited from engaging in animal-related trade for up to one year. Businesses that are deemed to be reckless, ignorant and that fail to provide care can also face a maximum S$20,000 fine. The recommendations, both legislative and non-legislative, are grouped under four thrusts. These include ensuring reasonable care and welfare of animals, increasing deterrence and stepping up action against wrongdoers, fostering greater responsibility in the industry to ensure animal welfare, as well as fostering greater responsibility amongst pet owners and greater community awareness of animal welfare. MND said this is a significant step towards improving animal welfare in Singapore. Source: CNA
Zaobao | Apr 26, 2013 
TODAY | Apr 26, 2013
MND accepts all recommendations to improve animal welfare laws
SINGAPORE — Recommendations for improving animal welfare in Singapore have been accepted by the Ministry of National Development, and will be implemented in phases. The ministry said yesterday it has accepted all 24 recommendations proposed by the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee (AWLRC), which were submitted last month. The recommendations include establishing a minimum age for pet buyers — only those 16 or older will be allowed to buy a pet. This will also be a condition for the licensing of pet shops and pet farms selling pets. Also among the recommendations is a tiered penalty structure that considers the intent of the offender and nature of the offence. For example, repeat malicious offenders of animal cruelty and abuse could be fined up to S$50,000 or face a three-year jail term, or both. The offender would also be prohibited from keeping animals for up to one year. The current penalty is a maximum fine of S$10,000 and/or a one-year jail term. The ministry said it would work with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to come up with detailed implementation plans and roll out the recommendations in phases. It also said it welcomes AWLRC Chairman Yeo Guat Kwang’s plans to table a Private Member’s Bill to amend the animal welfare legislation in the Animal and Birds Act. Other proposals include a new penalty for those who show a deliberate or malicious intent of being cruel to an animal, and for repeat offenders who fail to ensure adequate care. Such offenders could face a maximum fine of S$20,000 or two years’ jail, or both. They would also not be allowed to keep animals for up to a year. Corporate bodies will also face stiffer penalties. Repeat offenders who commit wilful acts of cruelty can be fined up to S$100,000 or be prohibited from engaging in animal-related trade for up to a year, or both. Businesses deemed to be reckless, ignorant and that fail to provide care can face a maximum S$20,000 fine. CHANNEL NEWSASIA Source: TODAYonline
AsiaOne | Apr 26, 2013
MND accepts recommendations to improve animal welfare Walter Sim
SINGAPORE – The recommendations have been grouped into four areas: to ensure reasonable care and welfare of animals; to increase deterrence and stepping up action against wrongdoers; to foster greater responsibility in industry; and to foster greater responsibility among pet owners and greater community awareness. Here is the press release from MND: Taking Further Steps to Improve Animal Welfare The Ministry of National Development (MND) has accepted all 24 recommendations proposed by the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee (AWLRC). This is a significant step towards improving animal welfare in Singapore. The Animal Welfare Legislative Review Committee In April 2012, the Minister for National Development appointed Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Const