Controlling Population of Stray Animals

Mdm Speaker, the priority in our approach in managing the stray animal population is to ensure that public safety is not compromised by any potential danger that is posed by stray animals in the community.

AVA adopts a range of measures to manage and control the stray animal population, and they include the removal of the animals, sterilisation, working with Animal Welfare Groups (AWGs) to rehome suitable stray animals, such as dogs and cats; and, as a last resort – I repeat, as a last resort – to humanely put down the excess strays that cannot be rehomed.

AVA supports the AWGs by waiving its fees when they rehome suitable stray dogs from AVA's pound. The Government also supports two ground-up pilot initiatives on the rehoming of stray dogs and cats which were launched

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last year. Project ADORE, which is ADOption and Rehoming of dogs, led by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD), was to pilot the rehoming of suitable mid-sized mongrels in HDB flats. Project LOVE CATS, led by the Cat Welfare Society (CWS), was to pilot the keeping of cats by HDB dwellers in Chong Pang. Both projects are progressing well. I personally hope that it works because I think it is a key component in terms of the solution to housing strays.

In addition, AVA engages other stakeholders such as the Town Councils, caregivers and feeders to mediate between disputing parties. There are many animal lovers out there but there are also those who are less than tolerant. And we need to conduct control operations to also remove aggressive animals, as well as to educate the caregivers and feeders themselves on responsible feeding.

Managing the stray animal population and the nuisance posed by them requires a collective effort by Government agencies, the AWGs and also the public, and especially, I think, if you go upstream, including the pet owners. Pet abandonment adds to the stray animal population, existing and potential pet owners need to understand the care and responsibility that comes with owning a pet. To spread this message, AVA has in place a Responsible Pet Ownership (RPO) programme which reaches out to the public through school talks, roadshows and mass media such as advertorials. In addition, my Ministry has also accepted the recommendation by the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee (AWLRC) to increase penalties for animal cruelty and offenders, including those who abandon pets.

Thank you, Mdm Speaker. I thank the Senior Minister of State for the reply. In fact, I am sure that Mdm Speaker shares the same sentiments as me that balancing the well-being of stray dogs as well as the welfare of our residents is a very complex and emotive one.

I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State whether the Ministry can also review the adoption criteria of stray dogs such as the weight, the size and even the breed so that more strays such as stray mongrels or crossbreeds can be rehomed, freeing up very critical space that the shelters are currently facing. They actually run in full capacity at this point in time. Can more support and subsidies or help can be given to these welfare groups and dog shelters so that they can expand their capacity and also better rehab these dogs for rehoming.

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Lastly, does the Ministry also look at ways to better manage the growth of stray dogs, especially in places where they propagate in large numbers, and would the Ministry consider a mass sterilisation project to manage this population?

Mdm Speaker, with regard to the second question on how do we manage the stray dog population numbers, I think, very briefly, AVA manages the stray dog population as a preventive measure. It is important to understand that because there are potential threats to public safety, it is not just about sterilisation. I think when dogs operate in packs as well, it can be threatening for public safety and security, and that is something that we are concerned about. In fact, many members of the public do raise concerns, especially where children are involved, and there is also the concern with regard to rabies.

Essentially, when we receive public feedback, AVA will carry out surveillance and control operations. AVA will work with Animal Welfare Groups such as SPCA or Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD) to rehome impounded dogs where we can, and dogs which are healthy and with a suitable temperament. And those that are not able to be rehomed will, as a last resort, be put down in a humane fashion. This is why it comes back to the earlier point about Project ADORE, which I think it is important.

The Member also raised an important point about the criteria, which is why Project ADORE is meant to address that to see whether we are able to house mongrels – up to mid-sized mongrels − in HDB flats.

As you are aware, and as I have mentioned, there will be those who are comfortable with pets and there will be those who are less than comfortable. So, we need to create a common space so that people are comfortable. I think that if this project can succeed and it moves forward, it allows a greater capacity for strays to be rehomed and this would be an important step forward in terms of making sure that we manage the stray population. But as with all cases, there will be dogs with temperaments that are not suitable for rehoming and/or those which are less than healthy; in those cases, as a last resort, we will put them down in a humane fashion.

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