2,059 Small Pets Left At SPCA
The Straits Times, 19 Jan 2004

THE Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is calling for a restriction on the sale of small animals like rabbits and hamsters, because of the growing number of such creatures being left on its premises.

Last year, 2,059 small animals were taken in by the SPCA, 500 more than 2002.

If dogs and cats are included, the SPCA received about 12,300 unwanted animals.

Less than 10 per cent were adopted.

The rest were put down.

'That's a tragic statistic,' SPCA executive officer Deirdre Moss told The Straits Times yesterday.

She suggested that the authorities step in to curb the growing trend of abandoning animals.

They could restrict the number of pets on sale.

SPCA conducts public education on owning pets through various channels, including going to schools to talk about it and on its website, http://www.spca.org.sg