#1 COE for pet ownership too
TODAY 10 May 2006
Letter from Lee Hong Leong
I REFER to Tirta Andila Swari's letter "Don't let animals end up like Spot" (May 9).
Often, pets are abandoned because of ignorance. Putting strays to sleep does not solve the root of the problem.
Many people buy pets on the spur of the moment without realising what they are getting into. Later, when the problems of caring for the pets become overwhelming, the poor pets are abandoned. Is this fair?
The best way to erase ignorance is education. Before a person buys a dog or a cat, he must be made to attend a one-hour video presentation at the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), which should describe the problems and the commitment and responsibility involved. Upon completion of a test, the would-be owner can then be given a certificate of entitlement (COE), free of charge, to purchase a pet.
Some may say this is troublesome. If they cannot afford the time and effort to get this COE, then the would-be owners definitely have no time to look after pets, and should never own any.
The advantages to this scheme are:
? The AVA would not have to use up money and manpower catching strays and putting them to sleep ? a futile and cruel exercise.
? These resources could be used in a more positive way, like the rehabilitation of the few pets that will still be abandoned.
? As demand is reduced, breeders will reduce the rate of breeding.
? Most importantly, the unnecessary suffering of the pets will be drastically reduced ? a reflection of a more caring and compassionate society.
#2 Police's inaction shows a stark bias against animals
TODAY 10 May 2006
Letter from Dion Van Der Grijp
WHAT happened to Spot is unacceptable in a civilised society, by any definition.
What is equally unacceptable is the inaction of the police in dealing with this case and the way it simply referred the person to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
I would like to ask, rhetorically, a question: If the victim had been a child, or an adult human being, would the police have acted similarly?
The obvious answer to that question reveals a stark bias that is unsettling.
#3 Stray cats a target for human terrorists here
TODAY 10 May 2006
Letter from Chew Lay Ling
ONE evening, my sister and I were on our way home when we witnessed residents in my block throwing water-filled glass bottles at two terrified strays that had been eating garbage thrown by humans on the grass pasture near the void deck.
We looked up at the windows trying in vain to see if we could spot the culprits. We could have been hurt by these falling water bombs.
We called the police, who told us there was nothing they could do even if they were to come over.
After a while, the hungry strays came back. Feeling sorry for them, I decided it was better to shoo them away and get rid of the garbage, so the cats would not again become the targets of human terrorists.
I fear the incident will happen again and one day, one of the strays will be hit ? and the result will not be just a bruise.
Many who are determined to see strays only as nuisances may applaud the above act.
But what a shame on our civilised society.
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1 comment:
I'd once offered the same suggestion as the first letter writer about sending potential pet owners to attend a short course before they get a pet. I wrote that suggestion when doing the survey on Sg's masterplan conducted by (I think) URA. And I specifically mentioned the education of dog owners is necessary to let them know that the HDB void deck is not their dogs' public toilet! *Grrr*
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