JUL 09, 2002

THE law has been given more bite to deal with people who are cruel to animals. The maximum fines and jail terms for animal-cruelty offences have been raised to $10,000 and 12 months respectively, up from $500 and six months.

The Animals and Birds (Amendment) Bill, passed by Parliament yesterday, also provides the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) with the power to enter and search any premises where cases of cruelty are suspected to have taken place.

Abandoning an animal will also become an offence, to deter irresponsible owners from discarding their pets.

Each year, the AVA and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have to put down about 9,000 dogs and 12,000 cats, noted Minister of State (National Development) Vivian Balakrishnan.

The Bill also enhances measures to prevent and control animal, bird and fish diseases by raising the penalties for those who import animals that spread diseases. This was necessary as there was a risk that disease agents present in animals could develop an ability to infect humans.

Dr Balakrishnan added that Housing Board residents will not be allowed to keep cats. A group of cat lovers called the Cat Welfare Society has submitted its second appeal to the ministry, urging it to allow HDB residents to keep cats as pets.

Dr Balakrishnan said cats were nomadic animals that could not be confined inside flats. The ministry had received many complaints about cats defecating in public areas and disturbing residents with their howling.

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