AVA and SPCA finding more strays; cats and small animals are the worst victims

By Radha Basu

SHE may clamour for that cute hamster or adorable puppy in the neighbourhood pet shop, but giving your child a pet as a Christmas gift may not be such a nifty idea - the hapless animal might end up on the streets.

Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) officers picked up about 35 stray or abandoned cats and dogs every day last year, as opposed to around 27 per day in 2002.

CAT-SUALTY: The number of abandoned cats grows by 20% every year.

At the launch of a three-day public education drive by the AVA to promote 'responsible pet ownership' yesterday, Second Minister for National Development Lim Swee Say acknowledged that pet abandonment was a problem in Singapore and that some pet owners were 'simply irresponsible'.

A 'lack of knowledge' - on the costs and responsibilities of owning a pet, as well as on the habits of the pet itself - was often the key reason for the irresponsible behaviour, said AVA chief executive Ngiam Tong Tau. The AVA is the main government body in charge of animal welfare.

'When issues such as family objections, time and financial constraints crop up, some owners inevitably choose to abandon their pets,' said Dr Ngiam.

Cats appear to be the worst victims. Mr Lim said the number of stray and abandoned cats in Singapore was multiplying by about 20 per cent every year. There are an estimated 60,000 strays cats here, he added.

Officials and animal welfare activists on the ground bear this out. Head of AVA's animal welfare education branch Dr Leow Su Hua said the authority receives about 4,000 calls a year from residents complaining about stray cats in their neighbourhood.

Executive officer of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Deirdre Moss said her organisation takes in about 500 strays or abandoned cats every month.

But cats, Ms Moss said, were not the only problem. 'We have seen an alarming rise in the number of small animals being abandoned,' she said, adding that close to 180 such animals, including rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs, are given up at SPCA shelters every month.

Ms Moss attributed this largely to 'impulsive buying' and the proliferation of pet shops in every neighbourhood.

Costs are another key factor for pet abandonment. Caring for a dog, for instance, can cost about $2,000 a year, excluding unforeseen veterinary emergencies, said Ms Moss.

But that's something many prospective owners do not consider.