FEWER REJECTED ANIMALS TAKEN IN BY SPCA
The Straits Times, 30 Sep 2002

THE number of unwanted animals taken in by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) here has gone down dramatically to 10,500 in the year ending June, from more than 13,000 the year before.

But there's no reason to celebrate just yet, said the SPCA.

'We don't want to paint too rosy a picture.

'The number may have gone down, but it's too early to tell the reasons for this, and if it will be a permanent trend,' said SPCA's executive officer Deirdre Moss.

The number of animals taken in by SPCA has hovered at 11,000 to 12,000 a year for the past decade, she said, hitting a high of more than 13,000 last year.

This was partly because of the increasing popularity of small animals here, including rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs, which were discarded once the novelty wore off.

Yesterday, hundreds of people attended the SPCA open house, held to mark World Animal Day celebrations on Oct 4.

Getting to know their new dog, which they adopted from the SPCA, are siblings Rhohini (left), seven, and Divaker Balachandran, eight. -- HOW HWEE YOUNG

They played with the animals at the Mount Vernon Road centre, visited the pet-care advice corner to learn how to take better care of their pets, and bought SPCA souvenirs.

These will also be on sale soon at Centrepoint and Holland Village.

Other pet welfare groups, which have sprung up over the past few years to help abused and abandoned cats, dogs and rabbits, were also present.

Said Ms Moss: 'The focus was on education and bringing attention to all animals, whether they are domestic, stray or wild, to promote kindness and respect to animals.'