Madam Ho Geok Ho
Member of Parliament for West Coast GRC

Ms Tan Poh Hong
Chief Executive Officer, Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1    A very good morning to you.

2    I am delighted to be here today for the Responsible Pet Ownership roadshow finale organised by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).  The Responsible Pet Ownership programme is an annual event started in 2004.  This year’s programme is unique as this is the first time AVA has organised the roadshows in our HDB heartlands.  Today’s roadshow finale marks the last of a series of roadshows held over three consecutive weekends at our community centres.  Let me take this opportunity to thank all of you for your strong support for AVA’s Responsible Pet Ownership programme.

Being A Responsible and Considerate Pet Owner
3    Many households have enjoyed good companionship and experienced much joy through pet ownership.  Keeping pets, however, is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. Besides being committed to looking after the health and well-being of your pets, pet owners should be considerate and exercise social decorum to your friends and neighbours in your community.

4    However, despite the efforts by AVA and the community to promote greater responsibility amongst pet owners, AVA continues to receive an average of about 8,000 pet-related complaints and incidents involving dogs and cats annually.  The common complaints include unleashed dogs, incessant dog barking, straying pets, and failure to clean after the dogs.

5    Pet owners can perform simple acts to reduce the number of complaints and incidents.  For example, a responsible dog owner should ensure that his dog is properly trained and socialised.  This can reduce excessive barking. The dog owner should also leash his dog and keep it under control in public places to prevent it from being a nuisance to others.  Such simple acts of consideration could help reduce the 60 or so cases of dog biting incidents reported yearly.

6    When walking their dogs, pet owners can take simple steps to bring along plastic bags and water bottle and clean after their dogs. This will reduce unhappiness arising from hygiene and cleanliness issues when dog owners fail to clean after their dogs.

7    I would also strongly encourage pet owners to sterilise or separate their pets, to prevent unplanned breeding.  Through these acts of responsibility and civic mindedness, we can prevent additions to the stray population.

8    Community groups, in partnership with AVA and various voluntary animal welfare organisations, can also help by organizing regular sessions at the community level on how pet owners can better manage their pets in high rise living environment like our housing estates.

9    At the same time, I would like to urge non-pet owners to reciprocate with greater tolerance and understanding towards the passion displayed by pet owners.  For some people, pets are an integral part of their family.

10    Today, I would like to announce two new initiatives as part of AVA’s continued efforts in rabies prevention and in raising the standards of retailers in the pet retail industry.

Pet Quarantine for Rabies Prevention
11    As one of the measures to keep Singapore rabies free, dog owners are required by law to ensure that their pet dogs are licensed with AVA.  Singapore can take pride that we have been rabies-free for the last 50 years.  However, rabies is endemic in many of the countries in this region.  The risk of the disease being introduced into Singapore is real.

12    While we maintain our vigilance against the incursion of rabies into Singapore, AVA is also doing its part to facilitate the international travel of animals.

13    Today, AVA imposes quarantine on dogs and cats imported from non-rabies free countries to guard against the introduction of rabies into Singapore. At present, pet dogs and cats that are imported from countries other than Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland will be housed for at least 30 days at AVA’s Sembawang Animal Quarantine Station.

14    Taking a risk management approach, AVA has reviewed its quarantine requirements.  By adopting risk management measures such as the use of effective rabies vaccines, blood testing for protective antibodies and microchip identification on animals, AVA will waive the quarantine requirements for pets imported from countries with minimal rabies risk from 1 January 2010.  This means that dogs and cats from low rabies risk countries such as Japan, Hong Kong and Norway can enter Singapore without the need for quarantine.  With these risk management measures in place, let me assure you that this waiver will not compromise Singapore’s rabies-free status.

Raising Standards of Pet Retail Industry
15    Next, beyond keeping out rabies, AVA is constantly striving to raise the standard of animal welfare in Singapore.  We expect the pet retail industry to be exemplary in their care of animals at their premises and to ensure that animal welfare is not compromised.

16    In 2007, AVA introduced the Pet Shop Grading Scheme to further raise retail standards.  Shops are inspected and graded from A (the best grade) to D, based on whether they comply with licence conditions and adopt best practices.  Their grades are displayed on a decal in the shop as well as on AVA’s website.  I am encouraged by the success of this grading scheme, which saw the number of grade “A” pet shops rose from 14% in 2007 to 25% today.

17    To further enhance pet shop standards and competencies, AVA will be introducing a compulsory structured training programme for the pet retail industry.  From January 2010, operators of pet retail outlets will be required to attend a Pet Care and Management course conducted by Temasek Polytechnic, and supported by the Pet Enterprises and Traders Association and the Workforce Development Agency.

18    Course participants will learn about regulatory requirements, animal care and management, occupational health and safety, and business ethics and management.  Training for the different pet retail sectors will be phased in, starting with those which sell dogs, cats and small mammals like rabbits and hamsters.

19    I believe that the new compulsory training programme will be well received by the pet retail industry, as well as by discerning customers who patronise shops that maintain a high standard of animal care.

Conclusion
20     In conclusion, let me express my sincere thanks to the various animal welfare organisations which have, through the years, worked closely with AVA to promote responsible pet ownership.  Your commitment and cooperation have been instrumental in helping us raise animal welfare standards and awareness.  I would also like to acknowledge the support from our schools, teachers and students who continue to support AVA’s Responsible Pet Ownership Ambassadors Programme.

21    The Government has made, and will continue to make concerted efforts to ensure that the welfare of pets, and the interests of their owners and non-pet owners are well balanced.  It is important that pet owners continue to exercise due care, responsibility and consideration so that we can have a harmonious environment for both pet owners and non-pet owners in Singapore.

22    Thank you.

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