M’sian man jailed for importing puppies without a permit
SINGAPORE — A 42-year-old Malaysian man received a six-month jail sentence on Thursday (June 9) for importing six puppies into Singapore without the relevant permits. He was also sentenced to three months jail for subjecting the puppies to unnecessary suffering or pain, with both sentences to run concurrently.
Muhammad Adam Yap Bin Abdullah was caught on May 19 at Woodlands Checkpoint with four poodles and two shih tzus hidden in a modified compartment underneath the rear passenger seat of his car.
Investigations by the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) revealed that the puppies were crammed into the modified compartment without food or water, according to a statement from the AVA on Thursday. The only air circulation the puppies got were two hoses running to the engine compartment. To keep them cool, they were placed on a towel with ice in plastic bottles and newspapers beneath it.
The puppies are now being cared for at AVA’s Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station. They will be quarantined for at least 100 days to observe for clinical signs of infectious diseases such as rabies, which have a long incubation period.
Once the quarantine period is over, the AVA will work with rehoming partners to rehome those “of suitable health and temperament”, said Dr Jan Yong, Deputy Director of AVA’s Quarantine Department.
Muhammad Adam Yap could have been imprisoned up to one year and fined S$10,000 for importing the puppies without a permit.
According to the AVA’s statement, its main concern with smuggled cats and dogs is rabies, which can be fatal. Rabies is a viral disease that can be transmitted by the bite of a rabid animal. “Singapore has been free from rabies since 1953 but we cannot be complacent as the disease is endemic in the region,” said the statement.
