Some dogs, cats from Animal Lovers League find new homes

SINGAPORE - Some cats and dogs from Animal Lovers League (ALL) will soon have new homes, after animal shelters Voices for Animals and Oasis Second Chance announced they would take the displaced animals in.

Both shelters have also made appeals to the public for contributions to help them defray increased costs.

On Dec 8, it was announced that ALL, one of Singapore’s pioneer animal welfare groups, had lost its tenancy at The Animal Lodge in Sungei Tengah, a facility supporting animal welfare groups and independent shelters. It owed more than 50 months of rental arrears.

ALL was required to return the eight units it occupied to the Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS), a cluster of the National Parks Board (NParks).

In a Facebook post on March 23, Voices for Animals founder Derrick Tan said his shelter will take in cats from ALL on March 27.

In his post, he also issued an appeal for essential supplies such as cat litter. Out of the 2,700kg of cat tofu litter the animal welfare group has raised so far, about 2,200kg has been used up.

Mr Tan acknowledged that the “numbers are significant, but so is the number of cats under (our) care”.

“I don’t really like doing appeal posts like this, but I can’t manage everything alone,” he added.

“It truly takes a whole kampung to come together to make this happen... I know I already have many animals under my care, but I take on more because they need help – and I’m simply a platform for everyone who wishes to help them.”

He also thanked those who have come forward to support the group’s appeal for essentials for the cats.

In response to queries from The Straits Times, Mr Tan said that VFA will be taking in 92 cats, but noted that the number could still change.

Some of the cats, he added, have already been taken back by their rescuers or owners.

All the cats have been evaluated by veterinarians from NParks, the Singapore Veterinary Association and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Mr Tan said.

The cats have also been microchipped and vaccinated. NParks and AVS will sterilise the ones that have not yet undergone the procedure.

“As for donations... some of the food was still left behind, and AVS has mentioned that they will be providing food for the animals that were taken over,” Mr Tan said.

“We will share more of the required essential items next week, once we fully take over (the cats).”

The group is currently working with AVS, and will hold an adoption drive at the Singapore Pet Expo. The event, running from April 3 to 5, will take place at Singapore Expo Hall 5B and 6.

‘Deeply grateful’

For ALL’s dogs, meanwhile, Oasis Second Chance said that it had committed to take under its care 29 of the 56 displaced canines.

“With our existing 91 dogs, this brings the total under our care to 120,” noted the dedicated dog shelter in its post.

“It is a daunting undertaking, especially as 95 per cent of these new arrivals require medical attention.”

To accommodate the dogs from ALL, Oasis Second Chance said it has secured two additional units in The Animal Lodge, which brings its total number of units to nine.

The shelter said that it was “deeply grateful” for the “generous support” of NParks and AVS, who are providing a year’s free rental and three months’ free utilities – support it previously said it would give to groups taking the displaced animals under their care.

Even with the assistance, the shelter noted that it is projected an additional expenditure of about $178,000 this year, which would go to improvements such as installation of CCTVs, increased manpower and medical treatment for the dogs.

Oasis Second Chance shared the various methods for donations such as through crowdfunding platforms, giving.sg and Give.Asia, and through digital bank transfers.

It was earlier reported that, aside from the overdue rent, ALL’s issues also involved feedback from its volunteers regarding the welfare of the animals.

AVS inspectors found that several of the animals were sick and were not receiving prompt or adequate veterinary attention.

According to previous reports, ALL’s animals will come under the care of animal welfare groups including Voices for Animals, Oasis Second Chance, Noah’s Ark Cares and SOSD.

They will remain for a year, rent-free, at the units formerly occupied by ALL at The Animal Lodge.

AVS will also supply resources such as pet food, in particular prescription diets and preventatives, and conduct medical checks to assess the health status of all the animals.

The Commissioner of Charities had opened an inquiry into ALL on Jan 28.