Speech by SMS Tan Kiat How at SPCA's Paws for a Cause Gala Dinner
Oct 5, 2024
A very good evening. I am always very happy to be at SPCA’s events. Especially tonight, it is a very good cause – SPCA’s annual Paws for a Cause Gala Dinner, held in conjunction with World Animal Day, just yesterday on 4th October.
Tonight’s Gala Dinner, themed ‘Pawlympics’, is a fitting tribute in celebration to all of you here today who help champion animal welfare.
SPCA’s work
SPCA has played a key role in advancing animal health and welfare standards in Singapore since its inception back in 1947. SPCA runs 24-hour emergency rescue services, a shelter providing care for over 200 animals monthly, and Singapore’s only non-profit Community Animal Clinic. This year alone, SPCA has supported over 4,000 animals through their clinical, rescue and release operations.
A very dedicated and passionate team that is running very lean operations and making a very significant impact. I would like to commend you for your passionate and incredible work with our community animals!
Equally important is SPCA’s work in outreach and education on animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. In June this year, I had attended the inaugural edition of SPCA’s VOICE Conference – a conference which brings together local and international leaders in animal welfare to engage with youths.
AVS’s efforts to improve animal health and welfare standards
At the Animal and Veterinary Service, or AVS, we have been working closely with various stakeholders, such as SPCA and other animal welfare groups, to raise standards for animal health and welfare in Singapore.
For example, in October last year, we announced plans to establish a Vet Council to regulate professional standards and to better support the growing vet sector.
Earlier this year in May, we also launched a set of guidelines on veterinary telehealth, to provide vets and pet owners with greater confidence in using veterinary telehealth services for their pets.
Just two months ago in August, we announced the formation of a new Dog Training Standards Workgroup, co-led by SPCA and AVS colleagues. This workgroup comprises dog trainers, vets, animal welfare groups, and representatives from working dog units, building on existing efforts to raise the standards of the dog training industry. Workgroup members are looking into developing proposals and implementation plans to raise public awareness and adoption of dog training using the Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive, or LIMA approach, and also review the use and regulation of various training devices, including shock and prong collars.
Most recently, we rolled out the pet cat licensing scheme in September, marking a significant milestone in our efforts to improve animal health and welfare standards in Singapore. In tandem with the licensing scheme, the Pet Cat Sterilisation Support (PCSS) programme was also launched, to support low-income households in microchipping and sterilising their pet cats.
To date, we have received more than 500 applications for the Pet Cat Sterilisation Support programme. My AVS colleagues are assessing all applications, and will arrange for eligible pet cats to be sterilised and microchipped.
AVS has sterilised and microchipped over 370 pet cats during four successful Pet Cat Sterilisation Days held from November last year to September 2024. My colleagues from AVS will be organising one more Pet Cat Sterilisation Day before the year ends.
Additionally, since May this year, AVS has provided free microchipping for over 1,600 pet cats at pet-related events. We will continue with these efforts next year, to better support pet cat owners to ease into the changes for the cat management framework.
We will also continue to work together with various stakeholders like SPCA, to educate the public and industry on responsible pet ownership through seminars, workshops, and public engagement activities at pet-related events, such as Pets’ Day Out. Through these public outreach campaigns, we hope to foster a greater sense of responsible pet ownership.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would like to thank the SPCA for your commitment and valuable contributions to animal welfare in Singapore, and being a key supporter and partner of our efforts to raise animal welfare standards. Importantly, I would like to thank SPCA’s passionate team of staff and volunteers, and everyone of you who has played a part.
The government looks forward to more collaborations and strengthening our partnerships in the years to come, as we work together with the community to build a more compassionate Singapore, where all people and animals are treated with kindness and respect.
Lastly, on a slightly more personal note, my engagements with SPCA pre-date my employment in the Ministry of National Development. I went to SPCA about nine years ago to adopt my Singapore Special, Muffin – he is 10 years old now, I adopted him when he was a year old. He is now an older dog, but old is gold. I adopted him at Mount Vernon, and then I visited the new SPCA at Tengah, and picked up my second Singapore Special, her name is Pebbles. She is also 10 years old this year. From the bottom of my heart, I can say that SPCA is staffed by very passionate and dedicated people, and I wish you all the best.
And today, all of you here who are playing a part and contributing to this cause, thank you very much. Your contributions go a long way in terms of supporting, not just the operations of SPCA, but more broadly, how together, we can work with all our community partners, different stakeholders, to raise animal and pet welfare in Singapore, and caring for the voices that may not to speak for themselves.
Thank you very much, I wish you all an enjoyable evening.