Set up dedicated police force just for animals - Teo Xiu Qi

11 May 2006

I refer to Ms Lynn Lam's letter, "Cat-killing still a problem" (May 8) and Ms Tirta Andila Swari's letter, "Don't let animals end up like Spot" (May 9).

I was shocked by the actions of the cat killers. I feel that the police are reluctant to take up cases of animal cruelty or abuse because of the difficulty in adducing evidence or find corroborating witnesses to enable prosecution. Besides, it can be quite time consuming.

I would hence like to make a suggestion to the Government: Set up a "police force" dedicated to responding to all cases involving animals, just like what some American cities have.

Perhaps the SPCA can be turned into a government organisation and animal lovers recruited as "special agents".

Let these people undergo basic police training and have the full powers of the police such as investigating, questioning and arresting!

I believe these "special agents", who are passionate about animals, will do a far better job than regular officers who have the mentality of "it's just an animal".