Animals

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Definitions and Scope

Target Population: [name of target group]

[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. You might be too exclusive: e.g. defining ‘vulnerable’ seniors as ‘low-income’, but you may want to include those without family support. Therefore, you may want to define vulnerable as ‘poor and/or with low family support’. You might be too inclusive: e.g. ‘latchkey kids’ may include those who have working parents, or those with serious behavioural problems.]

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.

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

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

Client Segments

[Eg. For at risk youth, some could have behavioural problems and be beyond parental control. Others could merely be disengaged and bored in school. Because it seems like different engagement strategies can be customized to these sub-types, it may make sense to segmentize.]

Size of the Problem

[Size of the universe (size of total potential need/demand for services)] [Size of expressed need (those receiving services and on waitlist)]

Desired impact for target group

[If we have no conception of what counts as a ‘good death’, ‘social inclusion’, ‘engaged youth’ , then it would not be possible to determine whether our policies and services are performing well]

Needs of [insert client type]

Need for [ insert description ]

[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]

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]

Need for increased animal adoption in Singapore

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.

EXISTING RESOURCES EFFECTIVENESS GAPS AND THEIR CAUSES
Project ADORE
  • Permanent scheme since 2014 [5]
  • 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) [5]
  • 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) [5]
  • Only one dog per flat [5]
  • Abide by stringent ownership conditions [5]
    • Sterilisation, routine vaccination and micro-chipping [5]
    • New owners must also apply for a dog licence [5]
    • 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 [5]
  • 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. [5]
  • 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 [5]
  • Allowable sniffer dog breeds include Labradors, English Springers, Cocker Spaniels and Pointers [5]
  • 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. [6]
  • MND will review the pilot expansion after one year and assess whether to extend it to other types of service dogs [6]

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.[7]
  • 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.[8][9]
 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.[10]
  • 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).[11]
 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.[12]
  • 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 [13]. 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 [14] 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 [15] Individuals with Dementia/ Cognitive impairments Improves perception, concentration, and provide sensory stimulation for patients with cognitive impairment
Motor skills tasks modeled by dog [16] 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 [17] Older adults with dementia/ cognitive impairments Improves physical, behavioural, and emotional function
Reading to dogs [18] Children Improved reading performance
Communication, establish rapport with dog [19] 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 [20]
    • 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 [20]
    • Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) programmes, which involves physiotherapy and occupational therapy goals for select individuals, are also carried out as often as deemed possible [20]
    • Therapy dogs are privately owned
  2. HOPE Dog Rescue
    • Assisi Hospice visited by Button (Hokkien therapy dog) [21]
    • Monthly visits to St Joseph's Home by volunteers’ and rescued dogs, including special needs dogs [22]
    • Therapy dogs are either privately owned by volunteers or rescued dogs [22]
  3. SOSD's Healing Paws
    • Established in 2014 to provide comfort and warmth to persons in need via Animal-Assisted-Activities (AAA) [23]
    • Owners and their dogs volunteer their time in institutions such as children’s homes, elderly homes, and hospices, providing companionship, motivation, and recreation [23]
    • Programme partners: Assisi Hospice, Ren Ci, Lions Home for the Elders, Ang Mo Kio Thye Hwa Kwan Hospital, Kheng Chiu Loke Tin Kee Home [23]
    • Therapy dogs are privately owned
  4. Pawsibility
    • Counselling practice established in 2013 [24]
    • Conducts programmes with various schools, agencies and other voluntary welfare organizations [24]
    • Support and advise on various animal-assisted activity programmes, such as SOSD’s Healing Paws, as part of Corporate Social Responsibility efforts [24]
  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 [25]
Cases Abroad
  1. San Francisco SPCA’s Animal Assisted Interactions Programmes
    • About 300 volunteer Animal Assisted Interactions (AAI) teams visit locations throughout San Francisco [26]
    • 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 [27]
    • 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 [28]
      • Animals certified through their Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) Program to roam the terminals [28]
  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) [29]
    • 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 [29]
    • 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) [29]
    • Findings suggest a progressive positive integration into the new environment and a gradual reduction of the dog’s stress during AAA sessions [29]

Resource Directory

General Animal Welfare Groups

ACRES: Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Singapore)

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

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

Dog Shelters

Hope Dog Rescue

Gentle Paws

(OSCAS) Oasis Second Chance Animal Shelter

Cats

Cat Welfare Society

Sterilisation and Adoption

Other Animals

House Rabbit 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 https://www.mnd.gov.sg/our-work/engaging-our-communities/project-adore
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 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
  7. ↑ https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/ABA1965#pr42-
  8. ↑ https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/ava-investigating-incident-in-which-pestbusters-staff-throws-snake-and-steps
  9. ↑ https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/struggle-with-3m-long-snake-outside-tang-plaza-shocks-orchard-road-shoppers
  10. ↑ https://www.wrs.com.sg/en/singapore-zoo/learning-with-us/education-programmes/lessons-secondary.html
  11. ↑ https://onlinelibrary-wiley-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/doi/pdf/10.1111/btp.12458
  12. ↑ https://www.wrs.com.sg/en/conservation/local-conservation-support.html
  13. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780123814531100030?via%3Dihub
  14. ↑ https://www-sciencedirect-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/science/article/pii/S1744388118302214?via%3Dihub
  15. ↑ https://europepmc.org/article/med/23474867
  16. ↑ https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2007-19902-006
  17. ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1533317514545477
  18. ↑ https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0149759
  19. ↑ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1064748112614596
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 http://www.tdspore.org/wp/about-us/
  21. ↑ https://www.assisihospice.org.sg/news/therapy-dog-trained-in-hokkien-brings-cheer/
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 http://hopedogrescue.blogspot.com
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 https://sosd.org.sg/community-outreach/healing-paws/
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 https://www.pawsibility.com.sg
  25. ↑ https://www.doverpark.org.sg/our-volunteers/
  26. ↑ https://www.sfspca.org/animal-assisted-therapy/
  27. ↑ https://www.sfspca.org/animal-assisted-therapy/puppy-dog-tales/
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 https://www.flysfo.com/services-amenities/wag-brigade
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787807002213?via%3Dihub
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