New rules include pre-sale screening, with checklists to curb impulse buying
By Audrey Tan, The Straits Times, 31 Dec 2013
By Audrey Tan, The Straits Times, 31 Dec 2013
BUYING a dog, cat or rabbit from a pet shop will become harder in the new year, with a new move by the Government to reduce impulse buying by children and abandonment of these animals.
From tomorrow, those under the age of 16 can buy the animals only when they are accompanied by their parents or legal guardian.
Also, the shop must carry out a pre-sale screening that involves both the seller and the buyer making a pet purchase declaration, which is essentially a checklist.
The seller's checklist is to ensure the buyer has, among other things, read up on the pet and knows a veterinarian to whom the animal could be brought when ill.
As for the buyer's checklist, it is to verify the seller has provided information on how to care for the pet, such as its health needs and amount of space it needs.
These conditions were announced yesterday by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).
Besides reducing impulse buying by children, the new rules "also aim to minimise the downstream problems of pet abandonment or poor pet care", the AVA said in a statement.
These conditions were announced yesterday by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA).
Besides reducing impulse buying by children, the new rules "also aim to minimise the downstream problems of pet abandonment or poor pet care", the AVA said in a statement.
Singapore pet shops are licensed by the AVA and they must renew their licence every year.
They have until June 30 next year to comply with the latest rules. Those who flout them face a composition fine of $500 while recalcitrant offenders may have their licences suspended or revoked.
While the rules are useful, Ms Karen Koh of Pet Lovers Centre (PLC) believes education is still key in preventing animal abandonment: "There are many irresponsible adult pet owners, just as there are many responsible non-adult pet owners."
The pet shop chain is among several in the industry with existing measures to prevent impulse buying. These include a pre-sale form which asks buyers if they have the time and means to care for their pets.
The chain also carries signs to remind shoppers not to buy on impulse.
Mr Ricky Yeo, president of animal welfare group Action for Singapore Dogs, said the AVA's new rules are a good start.
"The only concern is how bulletproof are they, and whether clauses like the penalty for abandonment, will be included in the checklist," he said.
The new rules were finalised after consultation with stakeholders like the Pets Enterprises and Traders Association and pet retailers.
They are also in line with the Animal Welfare Legislative Review Committee's recommendations, all 24 of which have been accepted by the National Development Ministry.
The ministry will introduce them in phases.
Some require legislative changes, an AVA spokesman said, although these are not necessary for the new pet shop rules.
The committee chairman Yeo Guat Kwang, an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, said a Bill will be tabled in Parliament after the completion of an animal welfare code, which "stipulates proper behaviour towards animals". A draft of the code has been finalised, Mr Yeo said, and will be placed online next month for public feedback. "Once we get public feedback, we hope to table the Bill in the second quarter of 2014," he said.
Would-be pet owners like undergraduate Margaret Ee, 23, do not think the new rules are onerous: "It's not asking too much to gauge a buyer's intention and ability to take care of a pet."
Pet shop owners expect business to dip as new licensing rules kick in
By Melody Chan and Olivia Siong, Channel NewsAsia, 1 Jan 2014
By Melody Chan and Olivia Siong, Channel NewsAsia, 1 Jan 2014
New licensing rules for pet shops kicked in on Wednesday.
The new rules prevent those under 16 from buying a cat, dog or rabbit from a pet shop, unless they are accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
Some pet shop owners expect business to fall by about 15 per cent in the short term.
But they also believe the rules could spell good news in the long run.
Chua Ser Kang, director of Sam’s Pet & Aquarium, said: "Those who can will care for the pet long-term and that's good for our business. They have to feed it and expenses will also go up, and this means more business for us."
Several other pet shop customers Channel NewsAsia spoke to also welcomed the move.
A six-month grace period for the new rules will last till June 30, 2014.
In response to queries, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority said it will take enforcement action against pet retailers who do not comply with the new rules after the period.
This includes imposing fines with composition amounts of S$500.
Repeat offenders may have their licenses suspended or revoked.
The Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said it is in favour of the new conditions.
But it feels the six-month grace period should be shortened to three months.
Corrine Fong, executive director of SPCA, said: "We hope that the proprietors get their act together and get started on counselling, interviewing and making sure the parents or the legal guardians understand their role in this whole thing. But it's simply not just enough for the pet shops to have done their part, parents need to understand."
Pet shops also have to screen older potential customers on their suitability to own a dog, cat or rabbit, before selling them one.