Friday 22 May 2015

[Straits Times] Review AVA's role in protecting animal welfare

I READ yesterday's report with concern ("Pet shops, farms 'falling foul of AVA licence rules'").
The Animal Concerns Research and Education Society's report found that seven pet shops which received an "A" grade from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) had breached one or more basic animal welfare concerns.
This reflects poorly on the AVA's inspection standards and points to a larger problem: Its conflicting role as the government agency in charge of both animal welfare and animal control.
On the one hand, the AVA is responsible for safeguarding the welfare of animals and preventing animal cruelty in Singapore, yet animal abusers - both individuals and pet shop owners - are rarely caught and punished.
The burden is on animal welfare activists to provide the evidence, but they lack the sophisticated surveillance technology, finances and manpower to do this.
On the other hand, the AVA is very efficient at deploying trappers, some of whom have been proven to use unauthorised trapping methods, to round up voiceless community cats and dogs for impoundment and, eventually, destruction.
It is time to review the AVA's conflicting role.
The AVA should either strengthen the enforcement of Singapore's animal welfare legislation or let another government agency take on the role.
Leona Lo (Ms)