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JUNE 13, 2003 SINGAPORE -- The Government announced on Friday it will auction off land for animal boarding facilities due to a public outcry over a cat-culling campaign. About 700 stray cats have been killed as part of a general cleanup following the Sars outbreak, though authorities haven't said cats were spreading the virus. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority said on Friday it will open up five 0.4ha and 0.8ha pieces of land 'for long-term boarding purposes' for the animals. Any group with 'proven experience in taking care of and/or providing boarding for pet animals may bid for the land', it said in a statement. Authorities are not suspending the cat-culling campaign, but have met with animal rights groups twice in the last three weeks to discuss new ways to deal with the stray cat problem, it said. Activists here have begun selling T-shirts blasting the campaign. One group held a memorial service in a five-star hotel last week to protest the culling. Another group, The Animal Lovers League, proposed exporting the cats to an animal shelter in neighbouring Malaysia. The plan fell through. More than 80,000 stray cats roam the streets of Singapore, the statement said. -- AP Copyright @ 2003 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved. |