LETTER TO THE STRAITS TIMES
19 Sep 2003

RE: "Go forth, multiply" The Straits Times Life 17 September 2003

We refer to the article "Go forth, multiply" (ST Life, 17 Sep 03) about Sam’s Pet & Aquarium’s aggressive expansion plans.

The House Rabbit Society of Singapore (HRSS) is alarmed at the rapid proliferation of pet shops in Singapore and the adverse impact this is having on the state of animal welfare in our country. While we support government plans to encourage Singaporean businesses to become more enterprising, we plead policy makers to seriously consider the moral implications of having more pet shops.

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) received over 1000 unwanted rabbits last year. Most of these animals had to be put to sleep due to the limited number of homes to adopt them and lack of space.

The unwanted pets that are left at the SPCA are the "fortunate" ones because they are at least guaranteed a humane end.

HRSS volunteers continually respond to requests to rescue rabbits dumped around our neighbourhoods. Over the past month alone we have picked up 20 abandoned rabbits, 4 of which were expensive pedigree breeds dumped at a rubbish chute

Domestic rabbits lack the survival instincts to fend themselves and we estimate that less than 10% of those abandoned survive long enough to be rescued. They become food for everything from cats, dogs, to even crows. And the "lucky" ones who don’t get eaten, get run over by cars or die from heat or disease.

In our opinion, the state of animal welfare in Singapore will only get worse if expansion plans of companies such as Sam’s Pet & Aquarium’s materialise.

Until the number of abandoned animals goes down significantly, we urge the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of Singapore to stop issuing new pet shop licenses. We also ask the AVA to step up the enforcement of its customer education guidelines. In addition, we recommend that microchipping be made compulsory for all pets sold in Singapore so as to deter people from abandoning them.

Pet ownership can be a hugely rewarding experience and the pleasure given and received over the lifetime of a pet can be incalculable. But before committing themselves to owning a pet, we urge all Singaporeans to seriously consider the responsibilities. Pets are for life and rabbits live on average between 8 – 12 years.

HRSS advocates adoptions over buying pets. When someone adopts a rabbit from HRSS or the SPCA, they are actually helping two bunnies – the one they take home, and the one that takes the newly opened space at the shelter.

To know more about rehoming an unwanted rabbit, please visit this website: www.hrss.net