04:46 AM Sep 16, 2011
SINGAPORE - The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) received 987 reports of alleged abuse and neglect between July last year and June this year, a 15 per cent rise in such cases for the same period a year ago.The SPCA said most people do not realise that neglect is also a form of passive cruelty. One common trend of neglect is leaving dogs unattended in locked vehicles with the engine turned off, sometimes for up to two hours.
Said SPCA executive director Corrine Fong: "Most people believe that animal abuse means causing intentional harm or death to an animal, but many do not realise that neglect is a form of passive cruelty. Severe animal neglect can be painful and even fatal to a pet."
Some examples include failure to provide an animal with enough food and water, medical care and treatment, and adequate shelter from the sun and rain.
In many cases, passive cruelty stems from ignorance on the owners' part or done out of convenience, or the inability to manage the pet or an ignorance of proper pet care, noted Ms Fong.
Several animal groups - the Cat Welfare Society (CWS), Hope Dog Rescue (HDR) and Action of Singapore Dogs (ASD) - told Today that the uptrend in animal neglect is due to an increase of awareness in animal welfare and a correlating trend in the pet trade.
"More people are buying pets but aren't prepared to love the animal, and pet shops are in the business of closing a sale," said CWS vice-president Veron Lau.
ASD president Ricky Yeo told Today that social media and camera phones have made it "easier" for people to report abuses.
Mr Yeo, who mans ASD's hotline, also noted that the welfare group has received more calls from people reporting abuse compared to the past.
Another reason for the increased incidence of neglect is that veterinary bills are "expensive and have gone up", and lifestyle change, said HRD founder Fiona Foo.
"I rescued a Schnauzer in a tiny cage, placed in a toilet for six months and was hardly fed. The owner neglected his dog of two years after the arrival of his child," she said.
Ms Fong told Today that the SPCA's efforts to highlight animal abuse could have made people more aware of animal welfare, which in turn could have led to the association receiving more reports on neglect and abuse this year.
To raise awareness on animal neglect, the SPCA will be organising an outreach event on Sept 25 at East Coast Park.
