SPCA requests AVA to restrict import, breeding, sale of pedigree dogs
By Wong Mun Wai, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 27 February 2008 2042 hrs

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SINGAPORE: The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) wrote to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) last week to call for tighter restrictions on the import, breeding and sale of pedigree dogs.

Last year alone, the SPCA took in some 3,000 unwanted dogs, and more than half of them were pedigree dogs.

In its reply, AVA said it would not be appropriate to restrict the number and type of dogs imported, bred and sold. It, however, has to approve the type and number of dogs pet shops can sell.

It also pointed out in its reply that since last September, AVA has introduced several measures to discourage abandonment of pet dogs, which include compulsory microchipping and the introduction of a differential fee for sterilised and unsterilised pet dogs. There are also tighter controls on breeding dogs on dog farms.

Last year, the AVA impounded 2050 dogs.

Deirdre Moss, executive officer of SPCA, said: "We definitely have a surplus. And you know we are limited in the number of homes that can be found also. We have 250 dogs coming in every month, of which half are pedigree, and we have got 30 to 35 homes to adopt them."

SPCA figures indicated that the number of lost or unwanted pedigree dogs rose from 30 to 50 per cent over the past two years, and the most common reason cited when dogs are given to the society is that the owners have no time to look after them. - CNA/ac