You've seen an animal being abused in Singapore and want to do something to stop it, but you don't know what to do. Here are a few steps to help you with a cruelty investigation.

Pet Shop Complaints

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore is the statutory board that licenses all pet shops in Singapore. No animals can be displayed or sold without the necessary clearances from AVA.

Click here to download (PDF) the rules governing the display and sale of rabbits in Singapore by AVA.

Despite these strict rules, HRSS receives many complaints of pet shops abusing animals, particularly rabbits. If you see a pet shop selling underage rabbits (rabbits younger than 10 weeks) or mistreating them, please send an email to AVA's Centre for Animal Welfare and Control (CAWC). CAWC's contact information is:

Centre for Animal Welfare and Control (CAWC)
Agri-food and Veterinary Authority
75 Pasir Panjang Road
Singapore 118507

Animal exhibition/ pet shop licences contact
Tel: 64717198
Fax: 64733687
Email: ava_cawc@ava.gov.sg

Please be very specific in your description of the situation and include details such as the name of pet shop, date and time of the incident, how the rabbits were housed, what you saw, etc. This will make AVA's investigations easier. If you can, photograph the situation. In your correspondence with AVA, you must include your complete contact information.

If you need further assistance from HRSS, please don't hesitate to contact us. Though we have no legal powers for policing pet shops in Singapore, we will do everything we can to guide and help you.

Complaints Against Individual Pet Owners

If you see any rabbit suffering, you should report the errant individual(s) to the authorities. We suggest the following course of action:

First, confront the individual concerned. If he is a youngster, demand to speak to his or her parent. Tell them that this is not the way to treat a rabbit. If they are willing to listen, counsel them on rabbit care and behaviour. You might find HRSS’ basic rabbit care flyers useful. Often, you will be amazed to find how ignorant people can be.

If this doesn't work, please report the case to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). SPCA has inspectors who will personally go down to investigate the situation. SPCA can be contacted at its hotline 62875355. Please click here for more information.

If you need further assistance from HRSS, please do not hesitate to contact us. Though we are an all-volunteer organisation and our resources are often limited, we will do everything we can to guide and help you.

As you know, in 2002, Singapore passed laws which raised maximum fines and jail terms for animal-cruelty offences to $10,000 and 12 months respectively. So please express your strong disapproval of animal abuse. Animal abuse is not only socially unacceptable but it also reflects a lack of respect for life itself!