Post by clover on Jun 25, 2004 21:11:13 GMT -5
Rise of pet shops fuels abandonment fears
WHILE the ornamental fish business has taken a hit, other pet shops are charging ahead.
Since 2001, the number of shops selling small mammals, like rabbits and hamsters, has risen steadily: from 51 to 98 last year. At the same time, the number selling cats and dogs rose from 50 to 86.
The total number of pet shops is now 642, more than double 291 in 2001.
Their proliferation worries animal welfare groups which chafe at the high level of pet abandonment.
The problem has not escaped the notice of the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, which enforces regulations against animal cruelty and encourages responsible pet ownership. In its latest campaign that began on Sunday, it launched a series of ads in newspapers, appealing: 'Do not abandon your pets'.
Last year, close to 23,300 abandoned and stray animals were picked up - 7,300 dogs, 14,000 cats and 2,000 small animals, including rabbits, hamsters and terrapins. That works out to an average of about 64 animals a day.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) estimates that 12,300 of this were dropped on its doorstep, 1,500 more than in 2002. This year, the SPCA has received about 4,300 animals, said executive officer Deirdre Moss. Most are put down.
Only about 9 per cent find homes. So she welcomes the campaign, but wonders how much it will help.
The SPCA has persistently pushed for stronger measures, such as microchipping so animals can be traced to owners, limiting the numbers churned out by pet farms and restricting the number of pet shops.
The SPCA said the number of small animals it is getting went up with the rise of pet shops. Last year, it received 2,059 small animals, an increase of more than 30 per cent from 2002.
While pet abandonment is illegal - anyone convicted can be fined up to $10,000, face jail of up to 12 months, or both - no one's been caught.
'Education alone is not helping the statistics. As long as pets are being churned out by pet shops and pet farms, and people continue to abandon their pets, the situation can get out of control,' Ms Moss said.
But while it is looking into microchipping, AVA said education is still key, though it may take time to change the owners' attitudes. It said limiting breeding does not ensure fewer abandonments, and could prompt a black market.
Dr Leow Su Hua, head of AVA's Animal Welfare Education Branch, said: 'Severe restriction on pet availability would encourage smuggling of pets from unknown sources, under unsatisfactory conditions that could lead to the death of the animals.'
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My bf woke me up this morning, he had read the article at work and was so mad. He asked me to read it asap. Apparently, the statistics upset him alot. And I have to admit it's a big awakening for many of us. I've often read on HRSS about the terrible statistics of rabbits being abandoned, but apparently, the other animals are also in the same plight.
Dogs, cats, hamsters and terrapins are being dumped out of pple's doorsteps. You'd think they'd flood the roads in Singapore, with the thousands that are thrown away. It's really upsetting, and very very sad. Of course, many of the thousands simply die, it's just a matter of where they die.
On a side note, I managed to find a temp job. So won't be logging in as often.
WHILE the ornamental fish business has taken a hit, other pet shops are charging ahead.
Since 2001, the number of shops selling small mammals, like rabbits and hamsters, has risen steadily: from 51 to 98 last year. At the same time, the number selling cats and dogs rose from 50 to 86.
The total number of pet shops is now 642, more than double 291 in 2001.
Their proliferation worries animal welfare groups which chafe at the high level of pet abandonment.
The problem has not escaped the notice of the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, which enforces regulations against animal cruelty and encourages responsible pet ownership. In its latest campaign that began on Sunday, it launched a series of ads in newspapers, appealing: 'Do not abandon your pets'.
Last year, close to 23,300 abandoned and stray animals were picked up - 7,300 dogs, 14,000 cats and 2,000 small animals, including rabbits, hamsters and terrapins. That works out to an average of about 64 animals a day.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) estimates that 12,300 of this were dropped on its doorstep, 1,500 more than in 2002. This year, the SPCA has received about 4,300 animals, said executive officer Deirdre Moss. Most are put down.
Only about 9 per cent find homes. So she welcomes the campaign, but wonders how much it will help.
The SPCA has persistently pushed for stronger measures, such as microchipping so animals can be traced to owners, limiting the numbers churned out by pet farms and restricting the number of pet shops.
The SPCA said the number of small animals it is getting went up with the rise of pet shops. Last year, it received 2,059 small animals, an increase of more than 30 per cent from 2002.
While pet abandonment is illegal - anyone convicted can be fined up to $10,000, face jail of up to 12 months, or both - no one's been caught.
'Education alone is not helping the statistics. As long as pets are being churned out by pet shops and pet farms, and people continue to abandon their pets, the situation can get out of control,' Ms Moss said.
But while it is looking into microchipping, AVA said education is still key, though it may take time to change the owners' attitudes. It said limiting breeding does not ensure fewer abandonments, and could prompt a black market.
Dr Leow Su Hua, head of AVA's Animal Welfare Education Branch, said: 'Severe restriction on pet availability would encourage smuggling of pets from unknown sources, under unsatisfactory conditions that could lead to the death of the animals.'
--------------------------------------------
My bf woke me up this morning, he had read the article at work and was so mad. He asked me to read it asap. Apparently, the statistics upset him alot. And I have to admit it's a big awakening for many of us. I've often read on HRSS about the terrible statistics of rabbits being abandoned, but apparently, the other animals are also in the same plight.
Dogs, cats, hamsters and terrapins are being dumped out of pple's doorsteps. You'd think they'd flood the roads in Singapore, with the thousands that are thrown away. It's really upsetting, and very very sad. Of course, many of the thousands simply die, it's just a matter of where they die.
On a side note, I managed to find a temp job. So won't be logging in as often.
