SINGAPORE: Longtime environment and animal welfare activist Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC) said at an animal protection policies dialogue on Sunday (July 14) that he’d be calling for the mandatory sterilization of pet cats in Singapore.
In May, a 35-year ban on cats in HDB flats was reversed, which Mr Ng called “absolutely good news.”
“Finally, finally, finally after so many years of speaking up and pushing for change, we will allow the keeping of cats in HDB flats,” he added.
The Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) will publish a finalized Cat Management Framework for the management and welfare of cats in Singapore. The framework includes a two-year transition period for cat licensing.
The forum was held at the Nee Soon East Community Club.
Representatives from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), which Mr Ng founded in 2001, and other animal rights groups were also present.
The MP said that at an upcoming session in Parliament, he plans to propose mandatory sterilisation for cats through an “extensive” White Paper to strengthen animal welfare in the city-state.
Mr Ng was joined at the forum by fellow Nee Soon GRC MP K Shanmugam, who is also the Minister for Home Affairs and Law, The Straits Times reported. The two MPs talked about the different ways to prevent animal abuse.
Among the proposals in the White Paper are higher penalties for animal abuse cases and more precise definitions for the duty of care for people who own or work with animals.
He said that he plans on pushing for a lifetime ban on owning animals or working in an animal-related business for individuals found guilty of animal abuse. At present, they are disqualified for as long as 12 months.
Additionally, to prevent cats from making loud noises when in heat or caterwauling, Mr Ng will also suggest mandatory sterilization.
Neutering cats would prevent residents nearby from getting disturbed by the loud noises cats sometimes make, especially at night. The MP added that it would help ensure the roll-out of the cat management framework would occur smoothly.
He said feedback from the forum would also be considered for the White Paper, adding that he would call for a stronger focus on animal welfare in school curricula and better efforts to ensure that dog breeders follow guidelines.
“Share your views with us and I will table the first-ever Adjournment Motion in Parliament on animal protection issues. I will speak up and share your views in Parliament,” wrote Mr Ng in a Facebook post. /TISG
Read also: Cat ban in HDB flats reversed
