Written answer by Ministry of National Development on harmonised approach to addressing concerns on well-being and safety of community cats and dogs reported as missing by caregivers

Sep 18, 2023

Question No: 4957

Question by: Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin

To ask the Minister for National Development whether there is room to strengthen inter-agency cooperation towards nurturing a harmonised approach in addressing concerns pertinent to the well-being and safety of community cats and dogs which seemingly go missing as reported by their neighbourhood caregivers.

Answer:

Where there are reasonable grounds to believe that a community animal has been abused or mistreated, NParks will investigate and take the appropriate enforcement action. To facilitate investigations, NParks works closely with other agencies, including the Singapore Police Force, Housing & Development Board, and others.

2        That said, not all cases of missing community animals are linked to abuse by humans. Community cats and free-roaming dogs live in the open and move about freely, making it challenging to trace their exact whereabouts. An animal may have succumbed to other health and safety risks from its environment, such as exposure to the elements, road traffic accidents, and diseases. It could also have been adopted.

3        NParks will continue to work with stakeholders, including community caregivers and animal welfare groups, to promote the welfare of community animals. This includes encouraging responsible community caregiving and the rehoming of suitable animals. Members of the public can also play their part by reporting suspected cases of animal abuse to NParks and providing information to facilitate investigations.