Two kittens mutilated at Tampines dormitory

The mutilated bodies of two five-month-old kittens were found at a dormitory in Tampines yesterday morning, the latest deaths in a string of suspected animal abuse cases in the area.

Both cats are believed to be from the same litter. One of them, a tabby cat, was found dismembered with its head, limbs and tail found separately.

Volunteers from animal welfare group Cat Welfare Society (CWS) believe the other ginger cat was trampled on.

Cleaner Raden Ahmad Nawawi, 44, said he found a limb and the tail of the tabby cat in front of Blocks 1 and 2 of the 17-block dormitory, located at 2 Tampines Place, at about 11am yesterday while making his rounds.

He alerted the dormitory's property officer Rafeah Ghani, 28, about the find. She subsequently contacted the CWS, which got in touch with the authorities and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

According to Ms Rafeah, officers from the SPCA arrived at the scene to pick up the body parts at about 12.30pm.

Upon combing the compound, chief executive of CWS Joanne Ng and Ms Rafeah found the tabby cat's head, and the ginger cat, which had its innards scattered around it.

Ms Rafeah said six cats have died from abuse in the past two months. To reduce the population of stray cats in the estate, she had worked with the CWS to sterilise the cats, and put up posters reminding the workers that it is an offence to abuse animals.

But no suspects have been identified yet. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said it is investigating the case with the assistance of animal welfare groups.

Ms Corinne Fong, executive director of the SPCA, said it will be handing over the remains of the kittens to AVA for a post-mortem.

She added: "While we wait on AVA's post-mortem results, we will putting up an appeal for information on SPCA's Facebook page, as well as posters at the site. This, we hope, would draw out any credible information that might give us leads to the cause of the deaths."

The AVA is urging anyone who has information on this case to contact the agency on 1800-476-1600.

Those found guilty of animal cruelty can be fined up to $15,000 and/or jailed for up to 18 months.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 16, 2015, with the headline Two kittens mutilated at Tampines dormitory. Subscribe