AVS probing alleged animal neglect after 20 cats rescued from Bukit Merah flat

The cats had no food or water, and were left to fend for themselves in the unit, which was ridden with human waste after a sewage pipe burst. PHOTOS: SCREENGRAB FROM SPCA/FACEBOOK

Updated

Published

Sep 07, 2023, 08:00 PM

SINGAPORE – The Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) is investigating an alleged case of animal neglect after some 20 cats were rescued by animal welfare groups from a rental flat.

The animals spent eight days without food and water in the flat, which was covered with human waste.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said it helped to rescue the cats – including a kitten – from the Bukit Merah flat on Aug 19. The rescue took 12 hours in total.

SPCA added in the post that a sewage pipe had burst in the flat, “leaking waste matter throughout the flat”. In an accompanying video, cats are seen freely roaming around the flat. The floor is covered in brackish water, rubbish, trash bags and various household items. A cat is also seen licking the water in the 31-second clip.

Stressing that AVS takes all animal welfare-related cases seriously, its group director Jessica Kwok said it would take enforcement action against those who fail to provide adequate care for their pets, or have otherwise committed animal cruelty.

She said: “Being a pet owner is a lifelong commitment, and owners must be responsible and provide appropriate care for the animals.

“Pet owners are reminded to fulfil the standard of care for their pets, ensuring the pet’s shelter is safe and providing suitable food and water regularly.”

The rescued cats are currently under the care of AVS, she added.

Describing their condition upon rescue as “poor”, Cat Welfare Society (CWS) president Thenuga Vijakumar said there were no signs of any food or clean water in the house.

She said the animal welfare group was alerted to the situation on Aug 18 by an officer from Tanjong Pagar Town Council, who requested they conduct a joint inspection the following week.

Upon reviewing the case, CWS’ community engagement manager realised that the cats’ owner had requested assistance on Aug 10, when the pipe burst.

The Straits Times has contacted the town council for more information.

“As CWS does not have a shelter or rescue function, we requested assistance from SPCA,” Ms Thenuga added.

In its Facebook post on Wednesday, SPCA said its officers visited the unit on the evening of Aug 18, together with CWS representatives.

They were allowed to enter the flat only past midnight on Aug 19.

“The situation was so dire that we immediately alerted the authorities to seize the cats so that they could receive urgent medical care,” said the post.

“The cats could have faced life-threatening consequences if we had not attended to them in time.”

Embed Facebook

⚠️Trigger Warning: This post contains highly disturbing images of cats in poor living conditions. 20 CATS LEFT UNATTENDED AFTER SEWAGE PIPE BURSTS IN FLAT On 18 August 2023, the SPCA was alerted by our friends at the Cat Welfare Society (CWS) about an urgent case involving 20 cats left stranded in a Bukit Merah flat. The unit owner had informed them that a sewage pipe had burst eight days ago, leaking waste matter throughout the flat. The unit owner had left his cats (including one kitten) to fend for themselves, putting them at risk of malnutrition and poisoning from the toxins in human waste. Together with CWS, our SPCA officers hurried to the flat on the evening of 18 August. But it was only past midnight on 19 August that we were granted access to the unit. Inside the flat, the floor was covered in human waste. Having been starved of fresh water for more than a week, some of the cats were observed drinking the liquid from the sewage pipe leak. Two of the cats were in cages, denying them access to any food or water. The situation was so dire that we immediately alerted the authorities to seize the cats so that they could receive urgent medical attention. The SPCA is committed to supporting the rehoming of these cats upon completion of the investigations and has asked the authorities to further investigate the incident. The cats could have faced life-threatening consequences if we had not attended to them in time. We are grateful to our friends from CWS and the authorities for working with us through the 12-hour operation so that the cats could be saved. Unfortunately, this is not the first time the SPCA has encountered a situation like this. Pets are a lifetime responsibility, and it is their guardian’s duty to ensure they are cared for no matter the situation. Even before a crisis, have a plan for what you will do if you are suddenly unable to care for your pets. This could involve seeking help from a relative or a friend who can temporarily accommodate them. If something unexpected happens, act immediately by calling the SPCA’s 24/7 hotline (6287 5355 ext. 9) to request assistance. It could mean the difference between life and death for your pets. We understand there are many factors that can make it hard to care for your pets, such as financial difficulties or relocation. From sterilisation to prevent overbreeding, to finding a home for your pets, there are solutions that can help them lead a safe, comfortable, and healthy life. If you face any difficulties, please call us at 6287 5355 or email enquiries@spca.org.sg.
Posted by SPCA Singapore on Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Expressing concern for the cats’ health, SPCA executive director Aarthi Sankar said: “Upon clearance of all health checks, we are committed to supporting the authorities with their rehoming.”

There have been at least three instances of neglected cats being rescued so far in 2023.

In June, two starved cats were rescued from a rental flat in Jalan Minyak, near Havelock Road, having been locked in a cage with the skeletal remains of three others.

A month earlier, the police found several abandoned cats in a two-room flat in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3 after making a forced entry, following complaints by neighbours about a foul smell emanating from the unit.

And in March, 13 cats and two rabbits were rescued from a Sembawang Crescent rental flat by volunteers, with the tenant believed to have abandoned the flat and animals for at least a week, having been served an eviction notice.

Meanwhile, cat owners who find themselves with too many cats to care for are advised to have them sterilised, said Ms Thenuga.

CWS can arrange for the procedure to be done for free if the owners are facing financial difficulties, she added.

They should then look into rehoming their pets, which CWS can advise on as well.

She said: “In combination, the owners will be able to reduce the population of cats in their homes and make it more manageable for them.”

Pet owners can approach SPCA as well, either by calling 6287-5355 or by e-mail at enquiries@spca.org.sg

Those who are found guilty of failing in their duty of care to their pets, which includes abandoning them, can be charged under the Animals and Birds Act.

First-time offenders can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both.

If members of the public suspect a case of pet abandonment, they can contact AVS through its website at www.avs.gov.sg/feedback or call its Animal Response Centre on 1800-476-1600.

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