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On September 13th, 2021, The Straits Times published an article – 1,200 alleged animal cruelty and abuse cases investigated each year since 2017. According to the article, the authorities investigated close to 1,200 alleged animal cruelty and abuse cases each year between 2017 and 2020. Since 2017, 26 offenders have been jailed, another 40 were charged in court and fined, 113 were given compound fines, and 87 received warning letters. Codes of Animal Welfare and dedicated enforcement teams were put in place to foster better animal welfare in general.
Researchers Kellert and Felthous have identified some motivators for cruelty towards animals. The most common are:
Others include:
Animal cruelty is a multifaceted issue. Though not always the case, research has shown that violence towards animals and violence towards people are often interconnected problems. It is important to note that animal abuse and human violence are not cause-and-effect. But there’s a link to both problems.
Let’s identify the acts considered animal abuse. There are 2 main types of animal abuse recognised as criminal offences in Singapore. The first is Animal Cruelty and punishable acts of cruelty, as defined by Section 42 of the Act, include:
If found guilty of animal cruelty, a person will face a fine of up to $15,000, and/or imprisonment for up to 18 months for first offenses and fined of up to $30,000 and/or jailed for up to 3 years for continuous offenses.
The second criminal offence is Animal Neglect and not caring for animals. According to Section 41C of the Animals and Birds Act (Cap. 7, 2002 Rev. Ed.), owners of animals need to make efforts to ensure that their animals are provided with sufficient and appropriate food, water, and shelter. Owners must also ensure that their animals are protected from disease and injury, and not cause them any unnecessary pain or suffering. Animal owners are also prohibited from abandoning their animals. If their animals go missing, they are to make reasonable efforts to recover them.
A person found guilty of neglecting an animal will face a fine of up to $10,000, and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months. In the case of continuous offenses, the offender faces a fine of up to $20,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years.
Those working in an animal-related business, if found guilty will face a fine of up to $40,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 2 years. In the case of s continuous offenses, they will face a fine of up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 3 years.
Animal abuse is both a complex and complicated problem. It’s a social issue and often, citizen engagement is necessary to solve such issues. Having said this, we can all play our part within our families and communities to prevent these needless acts of violence.
Recognise animal abuse
We can start by recognising animal abuse. Animal cruelty encompasses a range of behaviours harmful to animals, from neglect to malicious killing. Signs of neglect you may notice include poor living conditions and the animals left outside during extreme temperatures or weather. You may even notice untreated injuries, infections, and neglected animals will often look dishevelled, extremely thin, and dirty. Intervene if you witness animal cruelty, abuse, or neglect. Do what you can to stop someone from mistreating an animal. However, be sensible and don’t put yourself in danger. If necessary, seek help from other witnesses.
If within your means, offer help to people who are overwhelmed with their pets. Pets aren’t necessarily neglected out of a lack of love. The owner may not have the physical and/or psychological resources to provide the pet with the appropriate care. Whatever the reasons may be, an affected pet must be given the care it needs to live and thrive. In such a situation, any help you give to the animal may help the human too.
In cases of violent abuse, visible signs include overt shows of submissive behaviour, such as whimpering, tucking the tail between the legs, and urination. If a formerly friendly animal suddenly turns aggressive, snapping and snarling, it may indicate that the animal has been abused or has gone through a recent traumatic experience. Often, extreme, and sudden behaviour change in an animal signal possible abuse. Additional clues that the pet has been abused may include unexplained injuries like visibly broken bones, limping, and wounds.
Care for your pet properly
Stopping animal abuse starts at home. Taking care of your pet properly is the most important part of pet ownership. For your pet’s safety and well-being, you may need to pet-proof your home. Your pet may need daily walks, adequate physical and mental stimulation, and a diet that fits his needs. He will need his doggy eating bowl, water bowl, or water dispenser, a variety of toys, a dog collar or body harness, a walking leash, dog shampoo, and other grooming tools. Your pup will also need yearly visits to the vet. Owning a pet comes with the responsibility to care for the animal the correct way.
Teach our children compassion for animals
We should all set a good example for the children by being respectful towards animals. Show them how to treat animals with love and consideration. Help them to grow up to become the next generation of advocates for animals. The next generation should be taught that animals have a right to live without fear or pain, and we have a responsibility to step in if their rights aren’t respected.
Support animal rescue groups and charities
Another great way to help stop animal cruelty is to show support for your local animal rescues and charities. These rescue centres are often the ones taking in abused or unwanted pets, giving them a second chance. Donate if you can and donations can be monetary or donations of usable items. Animal rescue groups will equally appreciate old blankets, dog food, and toys. Contact them to find out what they need before bringing the items over. Volunteering is another excellent way to show your support. You can contribute your time and give rescue animals the love they deserve.
If you witness an act of cruelty that results in the death, injury, or an abandoned animal, the SPCA recommends that we take the following steps:
We can all agree that animal abuse has no place in our society. Unfortunately, in every society, there are going to be some individuals who inflict harm on animals. It is up to the rest of us to prevent this from happening.
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