Animals

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Overview

Priority Issues

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Actionable Opportunity Areas

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Knowledge Gaps

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Key Statistics & Figures

Definitions and Scope

Official definitions

[Guidance: identify target group and define who is included or excluded in this category: you want to get it just right: not too broad that it includes those you may not want to include, and not too narrow that it excludes those you want to help. Does this knowledge base include only 'pets' and 'community animals', or also wildlife, livestock and animals in scientific research?]

Biologically, animals are organisms under the kingdom Animalia. Colloquially, animals usually refer to non-human organisms of the above group. According to Singapore’s Animals and Birds Act, an animal is defined as “any mammal (other than man) or fish and includes any other living creature that is prescribed as an animal for the purposes of this Act or that falls within a class of animals that is prescribed for those purposes” while a bird is termed to include “domestic fowls, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowls and pigeons of any age or sex and the eggs thereof” [1].

The broad term of "animals" can be further broken down into various categories: pets, community animals, wildlife, livestock and animals in scientific research.

Pets

Refer to this NParks web page for a list of allowed pets in Singapore. Other animals are not allowed as pets due to reasons listed on this NParks web page.

Community Animals

Community animals are also known as strays and refers to the "dogs and cats living in communal areas around us" [2].

Wild Animals

According to Singapore's Wild Animals and Birds Act, wild animals and birds "includes all species of animals and birds of a wild nature, but does not include domestic dogs and cats, horses, cattle, sheep, goats, domestic pigs, poultry and ducks" [3].

Livestock

Livestock in Singapore consists of hen (for eggs), fish, crustaceans and molluscs [4].

Areas of Needs / Desired Outcomes

[Insert Issue]

[Needs should not be identified in term of its specific solutions—eg youths need mentoring, seniors need hospice care, people with disabilities need day care (these are specific solutions we can be in the next column)—Instead, they should be defined in more ‘perennial terms’ because the solutions can change but the needs remain; I don’t need a CD player, or even an mp3 player, I need ‘portable music’ and currently the best solution seems to be Spotify]

[Also indicate the size of this specific need & projected demand were data is available]

Resources Gaps Ideas

Existing Resources

[e.g. existing services or programmes both private or public; relevant policies and legislation]

Gaps and Their Causes

[Some gaps could be due to 1) capacity of solution to meet size & projected demand, 2) quality of solution (effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, scalability etc.), 3) accessibility (geographical, cost to client)]

Possible Solutions

[Based on the specific gaps and reasons for those gaps, what might be solutions that can help? Insert existing but untapped resources, or new ideas that have not been considered yet]

Abandonment

Cases of pet abandonment are still on the rise. This is especially so for cats, where the cases increased from 9 to 21 to 57 in 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively [5]. One root cause of this problem is online marketplaces where there are black markets for pedigree cats created by backyard breeders who breed them and sell them on platforms like Facebook, Craigslist and Gumtree at 20% of prices in licensed stores [5]. Another root cause could be the price of sterilisation, which can go up to as high as $500, leading to overbreeding and abandonment [5]. Due to the COVID-19 situation, the problem has exacerbated likely due to paranoia of human-animal transmission of the virus. While the number of rabbit abandonment cases were low and usually of sick rabbits, there were recent cases of relatively healthy looking rabbits being abandoned [6].

EXISTING RESOURCES EFFECTIVENESS GAPS AND THEIR CAUSES POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Microchipping for dogs
  • A microchip is a small transponder serving as a permanent identification system that is implanted under your pet's skin and read by a microchip scanner [7]. It can store information such as information on the pet's owner, breed, emergency contact numbers, health problems and food requirements [7]. The cost of microchipping is $50-90 [5].
  • Enhanced rules on microchipping and licensing has been mandated for dogs [5].
  • The mandated enhanced rules has lead to a reduction in dog abandonment cases [5]. This is largely due to the ability to track lost or abandoned pets back to their owners, which also deters owners from abandoning their pets by increasing accountability.
  • Serve as a responsible breeder’s assurance to buyers that puppies being sold are traceable and identifiable [7].
Microchipping for cats

There is an ongoing pilot for the microchipping of cats in the Chong Pang area [5], under Project Love Cats [8]. If outcomes are desirable and there is significant support from the community, this will be expanded [5].

The benefit of increased accountability of owners for their cats via microchipping is likely to also be the hindrance for success. This is because under current HDB rules, cats are not allowed in flats [5]. The reasons stated for this are that they are challenging to contain, shed fur, urinate/defecate at public areas and make noises that would be disruptive to neighbours [5]. Despite this, there are people who keep cats in HDB flats. HDB’s principal consideration is to preserve pleasant living envy btwn residents who are pet lovers and those affected by neighbours pets [5]. Therefore, if microchipping allows their cats to be linked to their illegal HDB addresses, they would likely be afraid to do so and risk getting caught for not complying with HDB regulations.
  • Ongoing holistic holistic review of the regulatory approach for pet issues, including how to promote responsible pet ownership and deter abandonment [5] [8].
  • Mandatory and subsidised sterilisation [5].
  • Relax HDB regulations on keeping cats in flats [5].
Responsible Pet Ownership outreach programme
Laws

Animal abandonment legally falls under neglect and any person found guilty of neglecting an animal faces a fine of up to $10,000, and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months [9]. In the case of subsequent offences, the offender faces a fine of up to $20,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years [9].

Regulations
  • Pet farm license for breeding animals
  • Pet shop licence for keeping or displaying animals for sale

Neglect

EXISTING RESOURCES EFFECTIVENESS GAPS AND THEIR CAUSES POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Laws

Pet owners are under a duty to [9]:

  • Provide their pet with adequate and suitable food and water;
  • Provide their pet with adequate shelter;
  • Not subject the pet to unreasonable or unnecessary pain or suffering in how they are handled, or confined; 
  • Protect their pet from any significant injury or disease; and
  • Make efforts to find their pets if they go missing.

Any person found guilty of neglecting an animal faces a fine of up to $10,000, and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months [9]. In the case of subsequent offences, the offender faces a fine of up to $20,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years [9]. Where the person commits such an offence while in the course of employment in an animal-related business (e.g. at a pet boarding facility), they will be liable for a fine of up to $40,000 and/or to imprisonment for up to 2 years. In the case of subsequent offences, the offender faces a fine of up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 3 years [9].

The court has the power to disqualify those found guilty of animal cruelty or neglect from owning all kinds of animals for up to 12 months [9]. When such a disqualification order is made, the court may also take away any animals owned by the offender [9]. The court may also order for the animal to receive veterinary treatment [9]. In this situation, the offender is liable for all costs of the animal’s treatment until it has recovered [9].

Abuse/cruelty

EXISTING RESOURCES EFFECTIVENESS GAPS AND THEIR CAUSES POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Laws

A person commits animal cruelty if they [9]:

  • Cause or allow any unnecessary physical or psychological pain or suffering to any animal by beating, kicking, torturing, ill-treating or terrifying the animal;
  • Make a sick or unfit animal work; or
  • Are involved in any business or incident related to animal fighting (e.g. dogfighting or cockfighting).

Any person found guilty of animal cruelty faces a fine of up to $15,000, and/or imprisonment for up to 18 months [9]. In the case of subsequent offences, the offender faces a fine of up to $30,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 3 years [9]. 

The court has the power to disqualify those found guilty of animal cruelty or neglect from owning all kinds of animals for up to 12 months [9]. When such a disqualification order is made, the court may also take away any animals owned by the offender [9]. The court may also order for the animal to receive veterinary treatment [9]. In this situation, the offender is liable for all costs of the animal’s treatment until it has recovered [9].

SPCA

Upon discovery of injured animals and when theSPCA has been alerted, Animal Rescue Officers who are on call 24/7 will be dispatched [9]. They will bring the animal to SPCA’s vets for medical treatment [9]. After treatment, most of these animals are released back into the community, put up for adoption or fostered by a fosterer [9]. Unfortunately, in some cases, the animal either does not survive the abuse, or is in such a state that they must be euthanised [9]. In such a situation, the court may make an order to euthanise the animal [9].

The SPCA does not have any powers of enforcement [9].

Low adoption rates

Through an analysis of various animal shelters' annual reports, we have found that there is generally low adoption rates and high numbers of animals being rescued over the years. The COVID-19 situation has exacerbated the problem as animal shelters are not allowed to conduct physical adoption drives [10]. There is also paranoia about human-animal transmission of the virus, as well as the financial instability in the public, likely leading to lower tendencies of people adopting animals [10].

EXISTING RESOURCES EFFECTIVENESS GAPS AND THEIR CAUSES
Project ADORE
  • Permanent scheme since 2014 [11]
  • Supported by Animal Welfare Groups (AWGs) - Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD), Save our Street Dogs (SOSD), Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Exclusively Mongrels (EM) and Causes for Animals (CAS) [11]
  • HDB flat owners can adopt local mixed breed dogs aka Singapore Specials (up to 15 kg in weight and 50 cm in height - limits are comparable to the size of toy breeds allowed) [11]
  • Only one dog per flat [11]
  • Abide by stringent ownership conditions [11]
    • Sterilisation, routine vaccination and micro-chipping [11]
    • New owners must also apply for a dog licence [11]
    • New owners will have to enrol their dogs for obedience training courses at the point of adoption, and sign a Code of Responsible Behaviour (CORB) which includes requirements to ensure that their dogs do not cause nuisances to the neighbours [11]
  • June 2017: expansion to allow rehoming of retired sniffer dogs in HDB flats under a one-year pilot. Dog handlers from the Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force K-9 units, and the MWDU are now allowed to rehome retired sniffer dogs in HDB flats. [11]
  • August 2018: became permanent scheme and members of the public staying in HDB flats are also allowed to adopt retired sniffer dogs, on a one-year pilot basis [11]
  • Allowable sniffer dog breeds include Labradors, English Springers, Cocker Spaniels and Pointers [11]
  • Residents have been receptive to larger dog breeds in their neighbourhoods if the dog owners behaved responsibly and there were proper channels in place for dispute mediation. The scheme has been well-received thus far. [12]
  • MND will review the pilot expansion after one year and assess whether to extend it to other types of service dogs [12]

Need for better protection of wild reptiles in Singapore

EXISTING RESOURCES GAPS AND THEIR CAUSES POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Animals and Birds Act
  • Any person who cruelly beats, kicks, ill-treats, over-rides, over-drives, over-loads, tortures, infuriates or terrifies any animal is guilty of an offence.[13]
  • Although in theory a python or a monitor lizard is afforded the same level of legal protection as an otter or a pangolin, in practice, many wild reptiles are treated as pests and are not handled properly. For example, snake removal is often done by pest control operators. Pest control is not usually trained to handle these wild animals and they often end up harming the animal or themselves.[14][15]
 Provide proper training, certification and follow-up for pest control operators to make sure they are up-to-date and are adhering to proper standards when they handle these animals.

Need for increased public education about reptiles in Singapore

EXISTING RESOURCES GAPS AND THEIR CAUSES POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Wildlife Reserves Singapore
  • WRS gives talks about Singapore’s biodiversity, its significance to our heritage and the importance of conservation.[16]
  • Still, the overwhelming majority of Singaporeans consider these animals to be dangerous pests. However, the truth is that reptiles are part of our native biodiversity that provide a wide range of ecosystem services (e.g. Pythons are what help to keep invasive rat populations at bay).[17]
 The Singaporean education system should include a) The importance of preserving and coexisting with native biodiversity and b) curriculum teaching kids to value and respect biodiversity regardless of visual appeal. In other words, even if somebody thinks snakes and monitor lizards are scary and disgusting, they should be able to appreciate the importance of living together with these animals.

Need for increased funding in biodiversity research

EXISTING RESOURCES GAPS AND THEIR CAUSES POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
Wildlife Reserves Singapore
  • Provides funding for projects related to research and conservation of Singapore’s endangered native wildlife.[18]
  • Current research is limited by the amount of funding it receives. Understanding our biodiversity better can better equip us to co-exist with it.
 Increase funding for wildlife research projects.

Increase sources of funding for wildlife research projects e.g NParks, NEA.

Need for end of life and post-death arrangements

Morechoose to cremate pets (ST 17 Sep 2017)

Existing Resources

Gaps and Their Causes

Possible Solutions

Animal Assisted Interventions

Animal-assisted Therapy (AAT)

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a type of therapy that involves animals as a form of treatment [19]. It falls under the realm of Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI). AAT may differ in terms of the animals introduced, the reason for therapy, or the targeted audience. In a literature review done in 2000, researchers found that several types of animals such as horses, dogs, and cats have been used for AAT in clinical trials [20] although the most commonly used types of AAT are canine-assisted therapy and equine-assisted therapy.

The goal of AAT is generally to improve a patient's social, emotional, or cognitive functioning and research has found that animals can be useful for educational and motivational effectiveness for participants. There are various studies documenting the positive effects of AAT reported through subjective self-rating scales and objective physiological measures, such as blood pressure, hormone levels, etc.

Canine-assisted Therapy

Canine-assisted therapy has been attempted in various contexts, for various populations. Here are some examples of activities used for canine-assisted therapy, and how they benefit the target population.

Activity Target 

Population

Benefit(s)
Feeding dog a treat using a pair of tongs [21] Individuals with Dementia/ Cognitive impairments Improves perception, concentration, and provide sensory stimulation for patients with cognitive impairment
Motor skills tasks modeled by dog [22] Preschool Children Completed task faster when modeled by a canine than by the handler
Dog walking General Gives purpose to a walking programme - motivation for adherence
Activity of daily living e.g. feeding, grooming the dog teeth [23] Older adults with dementia/ cognitive impairments Improves physical, behavioural, and emotional function
Reading to dogs [24] Children Improved reading performance
Communication, establish rapport with dog [25] Individuals with Schizophrenia Improve social functioning
Cases in Singapore
  1. Therapy Dogs Singapore
    • Non-profit voluntary welfare organization established in 2004 to share the unconditional love and affection of canine companions with society’s disadvantaged through Pet Assisted Therapy (PAT), which aims to meet physical, as well as socio-emotional needs [26]
    • Conducts regular Animal Assisted Activity (AAA) sessions to its seven adopted homes (AWWA, Bishan Home for Intellectually Disabled, Bethany Nursing Home Choa Chu Kang, IMH, MINDS, SWAMI, Assisi Hospice), in addition to ad hoc visits [26]
    • Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) programmes, which involves physiotherapy and occupational therapy goals for select individuals, are also carried out as often as deemed possible [26]
    • Therapy dogs are privately owned
  2. HOPE Dog Rescue
    • Assisi Hospice visited by Button (Hokkien therapy dog) [27]
    • Monthly visits to St Joseph's Home by volunteers’ and rescued dogs, including special needs dogs [28]
    • Therapy dogs are either privately owned by volunteers or rescued dogs [28]
  3. SOSD's Healing Paws
    • Established in 2014 to provide comfort and warmth to persons in need via Animal-Assisted-Activities (AAA) [29]
    • Owners and their dogs volunteer their time in institutions such as children’s homes, elderly homes, and hospices, providing companionship, motivation, and recreation [29]
    • Programme partners: Assisi Hospice, Ren Ci, Lions Home for the Elders, Ang Mo Kio Thye Hwa Kwan Hospital, Kheng Chiu Loke Tin Kee Home [29]
    • Therapy dogs are privately owned
  4. Pawsibility
    • Counselling practice established in 2013 [30]
    • Conducts programmes with various schools, agencies and other voluntary welfare organizations [30]
    • Support and advise on various animal-assisted activity programmes, such as SOSD’s Healing Paws, as part of Corporate Social Responsibility efforts [30]
  5. Dover Park Hospice’s Ruby Volunteer Group
    • Pet-lovers who bring their beloved companions to interact with patients under the Pets-Assisted Therapy (PAT) Programme [31]
Cases Abroad
  1. San Francisco SPCA’s Animal Assisted Interactions Programmes
    • About 300 volunteer Animal Assisted Interactions (AAI) teams visit locations throughout San Francisco [32]
    • Animals are privately owned
    • Puppy Dog Tales Reading (PDT) Program started in 2007 to promote literacy and a love of reading in at-risk youth populations [33]
    • San Francisco Airport’s Wag Brigade
      • Programme launched in 2013 to bring trained dogs and a pig to the terminals to make passenger travel more enjoyable [34]
      • Animals certified through their Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) Program to roam the terminals [34]
  2. Shelter dog rehomed with Alzheimer’s patients in Province of Bologna (Piva et al., 2008)
    • Study investigating if a shelter dog could be rehomed successfully into a facility for people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) [35]
    • Assessed effect on animal welfare of this form of pet ownership and of individual sessions of animal assisted activity (AAA) with some pre-selected patients [35]
    • Dog’s welfare was monitored during the first 6 months of adoption by integrating various measures (indirect assessment with direct observations of behavioural and clinical responses, assay of hormonal changes) [35]
    • Findings suggest a progressive positive integration into the new environment and a gradual reduction of the dog’s stress during AAA sessions [35]

Resource Directory

Animal Welfare Groups

General

SPCA: Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Singapore)

Animal Lovers League

Causes for Animals Singapore

Keep Caring for Animals in The Society (KEEP C.A.T.S.)

A non-profit organisation that conducts sterilisation of stray cats and dogs, and undertakes rehoming efforts.

Agency for Animal Welfare

MdM Wong's Shelter and Friends

Society for Animal Matters

Animal Human Alliance

Dogs

Adopt a Dog

A non-profit non-affliated website which consolidates all dogs for adoption in Singapore for ease of viewing and searching.

Action For Singapore Dogs

Voices For Animals

Rescues, rehabilitates and re-homes retired breeding dogs.

Save Our Street Dogs

Hope Dog Rescue

Gentle Paws

(OSCAS) Oasis Second Chance Animal Shelter

Cats

Cat Welfare Society

Sterilisation and Adoption

Other Companion Animals

House Rabbit Society Singapore

Hamster Society Singapore

Wildlife Management

ACRES: Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Singapore)

  1. ↑ https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/ABA1965#pr41-XX-pr41-
  2. ↑ https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs/animals/animal-management/living-with-community-animals-in-your-neighbourhood/meeting-stray-dogs
  3. ↑ https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/WABA1965
  4. ↑ https://www.tablebuilder.singstat.gov.sg/publicfacing/createDataTable.action?refId=14610
  5. ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/surge-abandoned-cats-microchipping-answer
  6. ↑ https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/coronavirus-healthy-rabbits-abandoned-amid-fears
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 https://www.nparks.gov.sg/avs/pets/owning-a-pet/lost-and-found-pets/microchipping
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ava-review-pet-regulations-microchipping-cats-abandonment-11320256
  9. ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 9.16 9.17 9.18 9.19 9.20 9.21 9.22 https://singaporelegaladvice.com/law-articles/animal-abuse-cruelty-singapore-offences-penalties/
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3075512/singapore-animal-shelters-full-pet-adoption-drives
  11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 https://www.mnd.gov.sg/our-work/engaging-our-communities/project-adore
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/retired-sniffer-dogs-from-k-9-and-military-working-dog-units-to-be-rehomed-under-pilot-expansion-of-project-adore
  13. ↑ https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/ABA1965#pr42-
  14. ↑ https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/ava-investigating-incident-in-which-pestbusters-staff-throws-snake-and-steps
  15. ↑ https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/struggle-with-3m-long-snake-outside-tang-plaza-shocks-orchard-road-shoppers
  16. ↑ https://www.wrs.com.sg/en/singapore-zoo/learning-with-us/education-programmes/lessons-secondary.html
  17. ↑ https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/doi/pdf/10.1111/btp.12458
  18. ↑ https://www.wrs.com.sg/en/conservation/local-conservation-support.html
  19. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123814531100030?via%3Dihub
  20. ↑ https://www-sciencedirect-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/science/article/pii/S1744388118302214?via%3Dihub
  21. ↑ https://europepmc.org/article/med/23474867
  22. ↑ https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2007-19902-006
  23. ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1533317514545477
  24. ↑ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0149759
  25. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1064748112614596
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 http://www.tdspore.org/wp/about-us/
  27. ↑ https://www.assisihospice.org.sg/news/therapy-dog-trained-in-hokkien-brings-cheer/
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 http://hopedogrescue.blogspot.com
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 https://sosd.org.sg/community-outreach/healing-paws/
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 30.2 https://www.pawsibility.com.sg
  31. ↑ https://www.doverpark.org.sg/our-volunteers/
  32. ↑ https://www.sfspca.org/animal-assisted-therapy/
  33. ↑ https://www.sfspca.org/animal-assisted-therapy/puppy-dog-tales/
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 https://www.flysfo.com/services-amenities/wag-brigade
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787807002213?via%3Dihub
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