All animals deserve legal protection
If you run over an animal, there is blood on your hands.
The recent Remy Ong hit-and-run incident threw this into sharp relief for me, as did an incident last Saturday, when I witnessed a kitten being run over by a car in front of mine.
I was travelling with my father, and we immediately pulled over when we saw the accident.
Oblivious, the driver ahead didn't stop.
Kneeling on the quiet road, I picked up the kitten and saw how its head was smashed in, its features melting into pulp.
In the few steps it took to reach the safety of the pavement, the kitten took a last few quavering breaths, and died.
We were in front of a row of private houses, and a resident offered to call the authorities.
But what could be done? It was, after all, a cat that got hit.
The Road Traffic Act says that in hit-and-run cases, motorists who fail to stop and render assistance could be committing an offence, and incur a $3,000 fine or a jail term of up to a year.
That is, if the animal is a dog, horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig or goat.
There are no hard-and-fast rules for other animals.
The incident reinforced the need for steeper penalties for hit-and-run accidents involving all animals.
Mr Ricky Yeo, president of Action for Singapore Dogs, noted that the antiquated rule - enacted in the 19th century and modelled on British law - is primarily concerned about creatures with "farm value", such as a working animal, or for an animal bred for meat.
Such considerations are hardly relevant these days.
We should instead be asking: "Don't all animals feel pain as acutely as dogs and humans?"
And shouldn't those who render harm to animals be penalised?
I've seen a group of laughing school boys burying a frog alive. I have witnessed far too many children throwing things at stray cats for entertainment.
They stop only when reprimanded.
Some people decide if an act is acceptable based on whether they will be punished for it.
Not doling out harsh penalties for hit-and-run cases for all animals - and for those who abuse or neglect animals - is sending out the message that their actions are not wrong.
One good thing that has emerged from the recent hit- and-run is the loud chorus of voices deeming the incident - which also saw Ong returning to the scene for his licence plate - unacceptable.
It shows that the number of those concerned about animal welfare far outweighs the number of those who treat life callously.
It was recently announced that a work group is being set up by the Government Parliamentary Committee for National Development to review animal-welfare policies.
I await the changes that will, hopefully, be put in place to better safeguard the welfare of animals in Singapore.
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