Killing strays is not an act of kindness

Today Online 19 Jan 07
Killing strays is not an act of kindness
Letter from Fiona Yuen

I agree with the letter writer of "A mayor's pet lesson for us" (Jan 16).

The town councils, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) should learn from Albuquerque's Mayor Martin Chavez and the Canadian authorities.

Whenever there are complaints about stray cats or dogs, town councils call the pest controllers to round up every cat or dog in the area and send them to AVA to be killed.

But this does not solve the problem, and only results in a waste of taxpayers' money and the animals' lives. Sometimes, injured or poisoned animals escape to die slow and painful deaths. How is this humane?

And yet AVA promotes kindness to animals.

AVA should guide town councils to work with welfare organisations such as the Cat Welfare Society to sterilise the strays and provide feeding shelters.

If Albuquerque can reduce the number of animals it puts to sleep and increase the number adopted, I don't understand why the SPCA has to kill more than 90 per cent of the animals it receives.

I find it touching that Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper helps make feral kittens adoptable. Why can't we show a bit more empathy to animals too?

Animals may not have an economic value, but that does not mean their lives are worthless.

Overhaul of HDB Cat Ownership Policy

Overhaul of HDB Cat Ownership Policy Problem. The policy not to allow cats to be kept in HDB flats is to minimise incidents of cats becoming a nuisance to residents (ST Jul 13) has good intentions but it has significant national implications for Singaporeans. Implications. Firstly, it leads to a loss of public integrity as residents keeping cats will have to do so furtively as cat keeping is a breach of a term and condition in the HDB property sales & purchase agreement. Will the offender be evicted from his home? Secondly, should one HDB official decide to use his power to enforce the over fifty-year-old policy, a large number of Singaporeans will be penalised since 90% of the population is reportedly living in HDB apartments. The issue may turn into a political hot potato during the election year. Using my personal experience, my veterinary practice, existing for 19 years in an HDB industrial park was asked to cease operations by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) official last year as veterinary clinics are not categoried as "industrial". I should relocate or become an industrialist although the URA & HDB had approved the use of the premises as "veterinary clinic" in a 1982 public tender. Thirdly, the taxpayers' money will be used to bring offenders to court should there be a challenge to the policy due to the eviction of the persistent offender from the HDB. Fourthly, once the court case is publicised, the image and branding of Singapore as a caring developed nation suffers globally since a click of the mouse for such information at a Google search engine will reveal such litigation by anybody anywhere. Fifthly, an increasing large number of older parents and sick senior citizens keep a cat as a companion since the children have grown up or are busy at work. Certain religions prohibit the keeping of dogs as pets; cats are a good alternative. The policy deprives many of home companionship, somebody to "talk to" after a hard days' labour. Many cat lovers who want to be law abiding, cannot afford to live in private condos and houses which will not have such a policy. Solutions. It is good to read that the Housing Board will consider the Cat Welfare Society's latest proposal (ST Jul 13). One HDB official had told me that cats let out of the apartments may spray urine or pass stools at neighbour's premises. Sterilisation of cats definitely stops this problem. How widespread is this wandering problem? Education of the younger generation helps to stop pet cats wandering out of the house will take time. An excellent initiative, "Responsible pet ownership education talks" by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) vets is held in schools yearly. I believe that the main nuisance for HDB flat owners is the cats making noisy mating calls and fighting over territories in the middle of the night rather than spraying urine at neighbour's premises. An excellent research on Singapore stray cats by the AVA vet, Dr Lou Ek Hee, http://www.sva.org.sg/html/singapore_stray_cats.html, showed that from 1981 - 1998, there was respectively, a yearly number of around 14,000 cats "culled" by the AVA and the SPCA and around 4,000 complaints about cats. Permitting residents to keep cats legally will lead to fewer strays as many residents do not want to breach the HDB law on cat ownership and abandon the cats if they have been warned by the HDB against cat ownership. I hope the prime minister will look into overhauling the policy owing to its larger impact on the ordinary Singaporean and the image of the country. Dr Sing Kong Yuen Toa Payoh Vets Blk 1002 Toa Payoh Lor 8 01-1477, Singapore 319074 Tel: 6254 3326, 6254 2728. Home Tel: 645 45843. Mobile: 9668 6468. drsing@pacific.net.sg Note: I am a veterinarian in small animal practice which includes cats. This URL: http://www.asiahomes.com/0737HDB_cats_Singapore.htm References at:

REFERENCES http://app.internet.gov.sg/data/mcds/mcdsfeedback/feedback/feedback175.htm Increasing Numbers Of Stray Cats March 13, 2002 Your Feedback : Some private estate residents are concerned about the increasing numbers of stray cats on the streets and the environmental issues that may arise because of that. They have approached the Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) for help in sterilising the cats but were told by the latter that members need to live in HDB dwellings in order to qualify for the help. As such, residents are interested in finding out what other avenues of help can they seek in sterilising the cats to curb its rising numbers. Reply from Ministry : When the residents of private estates mentioned about approaching AVA to sterilise stray cats to control the population, I believe they may have AVA's Stray Cat Rehabilitation Scheme in mind. This scheme was started for HDB estates in August 1998 as a way to control the stray cat population humanely through sterilisation and responsible management of the cats. Under this scheme, residents of HDB estates can apply to register with AVA or their town councils if they wish to help control stray cats through sterilisation and responsible management. They will qualify for registration (and henceforth called volunteers) if they can meet the conditions of registration which include working towards getting at least 90% of the cats in their area sterilised, managing the cats so that they can live harmoniously in the neighbourhood and assisting the town council to deal with complaints about the cats they manage. The majority of these volunteers begin by putting in their own time, money and effort to get the cats sterilised and manage the cats. To assist them, AVA will sterilise some of the cats if the town council requests AVA to do so. The volunteers have to arrange to catch and transport the cats and the cats must be accompanied with an original signed letterhead from the town council. A prior surgery appointment must be made. For your information about a year ago the scheme was extended to private areas that have an area management or residents' committee to work with the volunteers to control the cats. The conditions of registration and how the scheme works remain the same. If the committee would like to participate in the scheme and requests AVA to sterilise the cats we will do so upon receiving a formal written request. If yourself or your residents would like further clarification about the scheme or advice on how to be involved in managing stray cats humanely, please contact us. Thank you. Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore Tel: 2221211 Fax: 2206068 Email: ava_email.ava.gov.sg Website: http://www.ava.gov.sg Date Of Reply: 13 March 2002

http://www.sva.org.sg/html/singapore_stray_cats.html 1981-1998. Dr Lou Ek Hee, Head, Animal Welfare Section, AVA 14000 stray cats culled per year. 4,000 complaints about cats per year. Kinder and more gracious society. Majority does not want the stray cats "culled".

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,1870,131011,00.html July 10, 2001. Straits Times. Forum page. Cats make great pets in HDB flats I REFER to Minister of State (National Development) Vivian Balakrishnan's comments in Parliament ('Animal abusers to face heavier penalties'; ST, July 9). Firstly, we would like to point out that 28 veterinarians support our proposal to allow HDB residents to keep cats as pets and have confirmed they are excellent apartment animals. Increasingly, cats are becoming the most popular pet for urban dwellers. With sterilisation, they are content to remain housebound and indoors. Furthermore, we have stated clearly in our proposal that only people who agree to keep cats responsibly, i.e. indoors, will be allowed to keep them. Secondly, sterilisation is different for cats and humans. Unlike humans, cats lose all interest in mating once they are sterilised. As such, caterwauling, howling and 'post-coital agony' will no longer be an issue. The Cat Welfare Society advocates sterilisation of all home cats and stray cats. Thirdly, the minister may have confused the issue of stray cats and indoor pets. The complaints, which the minister refers to, seem to be in relation to stray cats which have not been sterilised or managed properly. This will not be a problem with pet cats, which need to be sterilised, microchipped and kept indoors, under our proposal. By allowing HDB residents to keep cats in flats, the number of stray cats will decrease, which will in turn lower the number of complaints. We believe that the minister may not have read our proposal or may have been mistaken as to its contents. We will be sending a copy to him. We hope to meet the Ministry of National Development to clarify the misconceptions with regard to our proposal. For details of our proposal, please visit our website at www.catwelfare.org

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,1870,131586,00.html July 13, 2002 Straits Times Forum Page. Proposal on cats under study I REFER to the letters, 'Cats make great pets in HDB flats' by Ms Dawn Kua from the Cat Welfare Society and 'Sterilised felines won't be a nuisance' by Ms Deirdre Moss from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ST, July 10). We thank both for their comments. The Housing Board does not permit cats to be kept in HDB flats in order to minimise incidents of cats becoming a nuisance to residents. Nonetheless, we are studying the Cat Welfare Society's latest proposal and will inform it of the outcome of our review in due course. SOO SIEW KEONG Assistant Director Public Affairs Ministry of National Development

Government (ir)rationale for banning cats from 85% of homes

Government (ir)rationale for banning cats from 85% of homes

(NOTE: some links still point back to post links on tec’s old address, updates are pending)

Please speak up against this injustice. Please seriously consider adding your voice to the appeal by:

1. write to these addressees: here, here
2. think about the arguments to refute their claims: here, here, here Go to: Casefile: Cruel Singapore. Hack-care Singapore. (Special recommendation: Singapore’s Love-Hate Relationship with Trap-Neuter-Release Management )

HDB bans cats, period. Doesn’t matter what you keep in your flat, as long as it’s not prohibited by AVA, is not a large dog nor a cat.

Here’s what the HDB says about pets, on its website: Home > Keeping Of Pets > Overview

HDB has to consider the overall sentiments of the HDB residents when setting policies and rules. Not all residents like pets, or are comfortable with neighbours keeping pets. HDB has allowed one dog of an approved breed to be kept in an HDB flat. The approved breeds of dogs are the smaller dogs which are generally more manageable. Please click here for the list of approved breeds of dogs.

Cats are not allowed to be kept in HDB flats. HDB also allows flat owners to keep other pet animals such as fish, hamsters, rabbits, birds, etc which generally do not cause nuisance to the neighbouring residents. (source)

Chronically, HDB refuses to look the flaws of its’ cat-ban in the face. It continues to insist that

“cats are not allowed to be kept in HDB flats as they are nomadic in nature and it is difficult to confine them to flats. Cats can shed fur, dirty public places, make noise and cause disturbance. Despite the prohibition on cats, HDB has been receiving from residents numerous complaints relating to cats.

As our priority is to promote a pleasant living environment and good relationships for all residents in our housing estates, HDB will maintain its existing policy on not allowing cats to be kept in the flats.“

Contrast the leeway allowed to keep other fur-shedding animals, and even nuisance causing yapping small dogs. How does HDB dodge the issue? Let us count the ways:

Letters in The New Paper (Jan 2006 to Present)
The following are letters from the public, and a column published in the New Paper since January 2006 and HDB’s sole response on the anti-cat rule. Very noteworthy is the fact that the HDB has only responded to the letter “Why is HDB against cats in flats?“.

• Feline Attraction (New Paper, January 16, 2006) (Add’l ref)
• Why is HDB against cats in flats? (New Paper, January 22, 2006)
• HDB won’t allow cats in flats (New Paper, February 11, 2006)
• SPCA: Allow cats in HDB flats (New Paper, February 16, 2006)
• Cats’ bad habits no worse than dogs’ (New Paper, February 18, 2006)
• HDB must update its knowledge about cats (New Paper, February 23 2006)
• Ban both cats and dogs from HDB flats (New Paper, February 23 2006)
• Pets can be therapeutic to elderly (New Paper, March 1, 2006)
• Cats are purr-fect pets, yes, even in HDB flats (New Paper, March 7, 2006)
• Cats less noisy than some HDB residents (New Paper, March 17, 2006)

(Discussion threads: HDB’s chronic misconception of cats - contains letter communications between members of public and HDB on this ridiculous ban. Highlight: HDB’s shameless application of the template reply, evne after the claims have been refuted!)

The Cat Welfare Society Appeals (2001 – 2002)

Summary

14 Oct 02 - With the ongoing effort of Catwelfare Society to appeal to the Ministry of National Development to relax the rulings against keeping cats as pets in HDB flats, its easy to get lost in the letters and responses. Dr. Lynn Yeo has kindly compiled the incidents into an easy to read chronological summary of the ongoing exchange for your convenience. Included is also a summary of the details of the proposal. by Dr Lynn Yeo

A SUMMARY OF EVENTS

• 6 September 2001 CWS writes to the Minister for National Development, appealing for a review of the HDB rule against the keeping of cats. CWS submits a Proposal for MND’s consideration.
• 16 October 2001 CWS meets with officials from MND and HDB to discuss the matter.
• 26 February 2002 MND turns down CWS appeal, citing concerns about irresponsible ownership and difficulties of implementation as the main reasons for the rejection.
• 5 July 2002 CWS submits an amended Proposal addressing MND’s concerns and providing workable solutions. CWS reiterates that the fundamental basis for the Proposal is responsible pet ownership - only those who abide by the strict guidelines will be allowed to keep cats.
• 8 July 2002 HDB ruling on cats is brought up in Parliament.
• 2 August 2002 MND turns down our appeal again, citing the same reasons as before.
• LATEST UPDATE: 2nd September 2002 CWS writes to MND expressing disappointment with the negative response. The latest official response did not appear to have taken our suggestions and amended proposal on board. CWS has requested another meeting with the MND and HDB to further discuss the matter and clarify our position. We are awaiting their reply.
• CWS PROPOSAL AT A GLANCE: The Proposal was submitted to support our appeal to the MND and HDB to consider changing the rules which presently disallow the keeping of cats as pets in HDB flats. The following were cited in support of a change in the rules:

1. 1. A large number of HDB dwellers would like to keep cats as pets. In a survey conducted over a period of 2 weeks, an overwhelming 2,500 respondents expressed the desire to keep cats in HDB flats and supported a change in the rules.
   2. 32 veterinary surgeons supported our Proposal and testified that cats are ideal apartment pets.
   3. Contrary to belief, cats once sterilised: * do NOT roam and will happily stay indoors * do NOT caterwaul because there is no longer an urge to mate or fight for territory
   4. Cats are easily toilet-trained and when kept indoors do NOT pose problems for either the owner or neighbours. Cats are clean, quiet, spend 80% of their time sleeping, and do not need to be walked.
   5. Cats make excellent pets for the urban dweller and provide companionship for people of all ages. Disallowing cats in flats would deprive the majority of us from these benefits.
   6. The existing rule discriminates against cat lovers. Cats are the only domestic animals not allowed to be kept as pets.

• CWS RECOMMENDATIONS: CWS has recommended the following which address all the concerns raised by MND and HDB:

1. All cats in HDB flats must be: Sterilised; Vaccinated; Electronically tagged (mircochipped). This will ensure that pet cats will not breed, are healthy, and the owners can easily be identified. The tag will also allow appropriate action to be taken against irresponsible owners who abandon their cats. Microchipping is a simple, safe and painless procedure. A small chip about the size of a rice grain is inserted under the cat’s skin by way of a quick injection. The chip contains information about the cat and its owner.
2. The cat(s) must be kept indoors at all times, and the owner must make sure that windows and doors are appropriately fenced up and secured so that the cat(s) cannot run out of the flat.
3. There should not be more than 3 cats per household to ensure sufficient space and attention for the cats.
4. A compassionate transitional stage where owners of more than three cats will be allowed to keep their cats until their natural death. With natural attrition, the number of cats will eventually be adjusted to the stipulated 3 per flat.
5. Only residents who comply with all the above terms and conditions will be allowed to keep cats in HDB flats. They must be registered with the local RC or Town Council as the legal and responsible owner of the cat(s).
6. CWS will assist MND and HDB with the registration process and help ensure that all the stipulated conditions are complied with. This will help ease the strain on their existing manpower resources.

Chronology

• Letter to Ministry of National Development: Revising the HDB pet rules (September 6, 2001)
• CWS’s New Proposal to HDB/ MND (July 5, 2002)
• Another appeal to let cats into HDB flats (July 7, 2002)
• Cats Are Still Not Welcome in HDB Flats: Reply from MND (September 1, 2002)
• MEETING WITH HDB 23RD OCTOBER 2002
• Letters to the press on this issue published during this period - Cats Make Great Pets in HDB Flats (11 Jul 02) -

An Appeal/Study In Support of Allowing Cats In Flats, and Sterilisation of Strays In Place of Culling

Overhaul of HDB Cat Ownership Policy

Dr Sing Kong Yuen, a veterinarian at Toa Payoh Vets, analyses and displays his letters to the authorities in regards to issue of overhauling the HDB Cat Ownership Policy. Link (Alt Link)

Other Letters Mentioning Cats

• Traumatised by animal cruelty – even after 18 years (Today, 23 March, 2006) [ref case] “When we moved into a flat, we were only allowed to keep dogs. It’s a shame because cats are clean animals which adapt themselves better to a flat.”
• Psst… mr brown, your help’s needed. Desperately! (TODAY, 20060406)

The justification for this rule continues to remain questionable

Again, please speak up against this injustice. Please seriously consider adding your voice to the appeal by:

1. write to these addressees: here, here
2. think about the arguments to refute their claims: here, here, here Go to: Casefile: Cruel Singapore. Hack-care Singapore. (Special recommendation: Singapore’s Love-Hate Relationship with Trap-Neuter-Release Management )

The Debate Rages in January 2007

Straits Times letters

• ST 20070125: HDB should replace ban with rules to enforce responsible ownership of cats
• ST 20070125: Why HDB should ban cat and dog ownership in flats
  • HDB should ban tolerance and harmony in hdb flats
  • To counter the views of a self centered and ignorant person
• ST 20070123: Clean and quiet, cats make perfect indoor pets
• ST 20070123: SPCA backs bid to let cats live in HDB flats
• ST 20070122: Ruling on cats in flats not fair to responsible owners
• ST 20070119: HDB’s anti-cat policy is antiquated
• ST 20070117: Don’t ban cats in flats, HDB

TODAY letters

• TODAY 20070129: Do cats belong in our HDB estates?
• TODAY 20070124: Forced to put on the coat of Dr Death
• TODAY 20070120: ‘Because cats scare me’ is not a good reason
• TODAY 20070119: Killing strays is not an act of kindness
• TODAY 20070116: a mayor’s pet lesson FOR us

Radio debate

• Follow-up: Should cats be banned in HDB estates?

Whether it is birds or cats, human beings are responsible for complaints to the town councils!

Yet town councils choose the easy but ineffective response to complaints by "culling" the birds and cats just because they cannot speak out!

Residents who throw food down to feed birds and/or cats are responsible!

Residents who keep cats but do not sterilise them and then subsequently abandoning litter after litter of kittens are responsible!

Residents who allow their home cats to roam, annoying neighbours, are responsible!

Residents who feed cats but leave a mess of leftover are responsible!

My Paper
Tuesday December 30, 2008
My Say

Litterbugs at root of pigeon problem

SOME time ago, I came across a large number of pigeons behind a block of HDB flats Most were dead, and a few were in convulsions.

Recently, a pest controller told a friend of mine that poisoned breadcrumbs were used to kill pigeons, as instructed by the town council.

My concern is the danger this poses to curious children and pet dogs.

I also think that this method of culling pigeons is ineffective, as birds are encouraged to gather in estates by residents who throw food from their windows.

The pigeons will return if such irresponsible habits are not correspondingly “culled”.

The town council cannot continue to cull pigeons as a default response to complaints about the birds, but should put in effort to get the real culprits - those who litter.

I would like to know if it is legal to cull pigeons with poison, and whether it contravenes laws against animal cruelty, as the dying pigeons seemed to have been undergoing a tremendous amount of suffering.

Dr Tan Chek Wee

A beautiful community cat in the Marine Parade estate

Community Cat with a wound on her right hind thigh

About a fortnight ago, a puncture wound was seen on the right hind thigh.
Today, the wound seemed to have healed.








There are so many dangers lurking at every corner on the streets.
Could this wound have been inflicted intentionally by an abuser?

Do Singaporeans have the same respect for our strays?

Read Victim’s family call for shark to be spared

A few months ago, the Senior Property Officer (SPO) of the Town Council informed me that a father has called to complain that a cat has attacked his child. He was able to identify the cat.

This cat was named Tuxedo by a resident who lives in the same block. She is one of two cats that belong to a Malay family living on the second storey. In March last year, the family needed some persuasion by two fellow residents involved in TnRM of the neighbourhood, to have the two cats sterilised (at caregivers' expense). After the cats were returned to them with advice to keep them indoor, these two cats continue to be “free roaming”. This has resulted in a complaint by another Malay family that said the cats jumped into their flat from the parapet frightening a daughter and recently this “cat attacked child” complaint. If only there are regulations to fine such irresponsible cat owners! Such irresponsible cat owners also jeopardise the lives of downstairs community cats as they could be rounded up by pest controllers in response to complaints to the town council.

These two cats were brought to the vet on 27-03-2007 and they were mother and daughter. The caregivers wondered how many litters been abandoned before they were sterilised as the vet called up later to say that both these two cats were found to be pregnant during the surgery.

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Fortunately the SPO was diligent and he spoke to residents from the block. A few of them said that they were aware of the presence of Tuxedo and said that she has not been known to attack anyone. The father didn’t pursue the matter further and the cats are still safe at that block.

Often it is a child who provokes a cat either intentinally or unintentionally, resulting in a cat’s adverse reaction. A child so hurt, will not admit his or her fault when the parents come to know about the injuries.

Some angry parents will demand a vindictive response from the Town Council.

How many cats have been “culled” because there are no caregivers to speak out for them?