Problem of Stray Dogs and Attacks on Public

Mr Zainal Sapari asked the Minister for National Development (a) which are the areas where stray dogs have been reported but the problem has yet to be resolved; (b) whether there has been any reports of attacks by stray dogs on members of the public; and (c) how is AVA working with the various stakeholders to take concrete action to ensure public safety.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) receives feedback on different animals, including stray dogs, from various parts of Singapore. The majority of the feedback regarding stray dogs is about dog sightings and nuisance cases like barking.

Upon receiving feedback about stray dogs, AVA conducts surveillance operations to assess public health and safety risks. If AVA determines that there are threats to public health and safety, for example, when stray dogs have acted aggressively, AVA will remove the dogs. If found suitable, these dogs are offered to AVA’s Animal Welfare Group (AWG) partners for rehoming.

To address the issue of stray dogs holistically, AVA also takes upstream measures. First, AVA will take enforcement action against errant pet owners who abandon their dogs. A person found guilty of pet abandonment may be fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed up to 12 months. Second, AVA implemented a licensing-at-source scheme in 2017 to enhance the traceability of dogs and further discourage abandonment. Pet businesses must now license all dogs before they are sold. They must also transfer the licences to the new owners when any dog is sold or transferred.

Third, AVA works with Town Councils, Government agencies, grassroots leaders, AWGs and members of the public to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership, responsible community feeding, and to advise members of the public on what to do when they encounter stray dogs.

Fourth, AVA intends to embark on a nationwide Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage (TNRM) programme later this year. This programme, in partnership with several AWGs, adopts a humane and science-based method to reduce the stray population through widespread sterilisation. After the dogs are sterilised, AVA will work with its AWG partners to rehome as many dogs as possible. Those that cannot be rehomed will be released at suitable locations to live out their lives naturally. Our target is to sterilise more than 70% of the stray dogs in Singapore within five years. If we are successful, this humane approach will result in a permanent reduction in the stray dog population after five years.