Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

        A very good morning to you.

Introduction
2      Pet ownership is on the rise in Singapore. For example, the number of licensed dogs grew from about 36,000 in 1998 to more than 53,000 in 2007. This is an increase of nearly 50% in 10 years.

3      This trend is hardly surprising, as we all know that pets can provide companionship for people of all ages, and bring joy to the owners. However, pet owners must be prepared for years of commitment. Rabbits, for example, can live up to 10 years, while cats, dogs and terrapins, can live even longer.

4      Owning a pet means committing to care for the pet, and to provide it with food, shelter, exercise, grooming, and even training. Apart from these, responsible pet ownership also entails being considerate towards those who do not own pets or are afraid of animals. Unfortunately, not every pet owner is prepared for all these responsibilities, and we need to continue to educate pet owners and potential pet owners of their roles.

Consequences of irresponsibility of pet owners
Pet abandonment
5      Each year, thousands of people give up or abandon their pets for reasons ranging from loss of interest, to lack of resources to care for the pet. The end result is suffering for the homeless, unwanted animals, as only a handful are fortunate enough to find new homes. Pet abandonment also adds to the stray animal population.

Pet nuisance
6      Irresponsible pet owners are also more likely to allow their pets to create nuisance to the community. Each year, AVA receives about 8,000 feedback on nuisance problems caused by dogs and cats. These are mainly complaints of unleashed dogs, excessive barking and straying cats and dogs. In addition, every year, AVA examines an average of 60 dogs involved in biting incidents. Whilst most of these result in minor injuries, they are regrettable and unpleasant for the parties involved.

AVA's RPO Public Education Programme 2008
7      We still have much to do, to raise the standard of responsible pet ownership in Singapore. The AVA is concerned and sees the need to reduce the number of abandoned pets and to minimise nuisance caused by pets to others. Continued public education is therefore pivotal in this respect.

8      The theme for this year's public education programme is simply, "Be A Responsible Pet Owner". The theme encompasses various "golden rules" of pet ownership, such as:

       · Respecting the rights of non pet owners by keeping your pet under control
         while in public
       · Preventing your pet from straying from your property
       · Sterilising or separating your pets to prevent unwanted breeding
       · Socialising your pet with other pets and people, so that the pet is relaxed and
         not fearful in the presence of other pets and people. This will help to reduce
         biting incidents, and above all,
       · Never abandon your pet

9      In the coming year, together with our partner animal welfare organisations, we will embark on various public education initiatives to bring these messages to the masses. These include our school and community programmes, as well as a media campaign.

Policy review - tightening regulations on potentially dangerous dogs
10      In tandem with our efforts to inculcate responsible pet ownership, we will also be reviewing our policies and provisions that apply to potentially dangerous dogs. The need for dogs to be well controlled and managed in our densely populated environment, where people and pets come into close interaction by necessity, is imperative. An aggressive dog, especially a large one on the loose, poses a threat to people and other pets, and can cause serious injury.

11      There have been reports of serious dog bite incidents around the world from time to time. The policy review will address the community's concerns on the risk of such attacks in Singapore. This will include the review of the breeds listed in the Schedule under the Dog Licensing and Control Rules and the conditions imposed for the keeping of such breeds of dogs. We expect this review to be completed in 2009.

Conclusion
12      I would like to conclude by expressing our sincere thanks to the various animal welfare organisations present here today. Your commitment and cooperation have been instrumental in helping us raise animal welfare standards and awareness. I would also like to acknowledge the teachers and students from various primary and secondary schools who have supported our Responsible Pet Ownership Ambassadors Programme.

13      Special mention goes out to the student ambassadors from St Anthony's Canossian Secondary School who are volunteering their services at this Roadshow, and pupils from Sembawang Primary school who will be putting up a skit on responsible pet ownership. Thank you for your enthusiastic support and active participation.

14      I urge all of you to continue to work closely with AVA to increase awareness of animal welfare. With responsible pet ownership, comes happy and healthy pets, happy owners, and tolerant neighbours. With the combined efforts of the Government, animal welfare organisations and the community, we will be able to create a harmonious environment for people and pets alike.

15      I wish all of you a meaningful and rewarding weekend. Thank you.

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