Putting Pet Stores To Sleep

Singapores pet-trade in has grown into a self-regulating industry despite the rising numbers of animals that are abandoned everyday. In 2003 alone, 12,309 animals were brought in to the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). This does not include in the animals brought to other animal associations such as the ASD ( Action for Singpore Dogs), the CWS (Cat Welfare Society) and the HRS ( House Rabbit Society). Pet store owners get richer and richer as more and more animals end up abandoned, neglected or abused.

Many of these animals in question are purchased on impulse and sold by pet stores that import animals by the dozens. People walk by pet store windows, coo over how cute infant animals are, are convinced by sales people about how simple taking care of a pet is and come home with living creatures they have no idea how to take care of.

And besides the animals on sale, pet stores provide and profit from a wide variety of accessories that contribute to the unseen cruelty that goes on within homes: Muzzles created for puppies/small dogs, cages too small in proportion to the animals in questions, choke collarsthe list goes on.

This petition was created to provide a voice for all Singaporeans who believe that the law should protect the creatures who are at our mercy and who cannot speak for themselves. Right now there are no laws that regulate the number of pets sold at commercial stores nor is there any real means of tracing whether there is proper education of purchasers at points-of-sale.

While it is hard to fight to enforce laws that do not even exist, may this petition serve as a collective voice for the following regulations to be enforced :


1. That laws regarding the dimensions of cages in pet stores be amended (at least doubled) to ensure not only that animals have enough space while in this temporary dwelling but also to regulate the number of animals being sold by a single store at any given point in time.

2. That an official contract regarding the proper treatment of different breeds of animals be created and made compulsory by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore upon point-of-sale at all licensed pet stores.

2(a).That purchasers be required to sign this contract before purchase is made. This ensures that proper, standard information is passed on during sale and the possibility that impulse buying might be bolstered.

2(b). That the breaking of this contract be punishable by law.

3. That prolonged/cramped confinement or leashing of dogs/cats, or overly cramped confinement of creatures such as rabbits, hamsters, birds and red-earred sliders in homes be made punishable by law.

4. That the sale/use of muzzles be made punishable by law when used on any animal other than breeds already listed by the AVA (Bull Mastiff, Bull Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd Dog (and its related breeds), Rottweiler and Perro De Presa Canario) and on animals below four months of age.

5. That the use of choke collars be banned on all pets.

6. That the sale of animals that originate from temperate countries ( e.g. Siberian huskies and St Bernards) be regulated and that purchasers of these breeds are provided with specific education with regards to their special needs before purchase.