When you think of the neglect and abandonment of pets in Singapore, images of abusive, lazy owners who don’t care spring to mind.
While such incidents do happen, there are also the elderly whose worsening health prevent them from caring for their pets, or those who urgently need to relocate to another country for one reason or another.
These circumstances can happen even to the most loving of pet owners, and so MS News has spoken with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) about the steps to take if you can no longer care for your animal companions.
“The SPCA receives appeals on a daily basis from pet guardians who wish to rehome or surrender their pets,” SPCA Singapore told MS News.
Tangerine, currently up for adoption
Image courtesy of the SPCA
While they don’t have an exact number, the organisation noted that rehoming requests far surpass adoption requests.
The reasons for such requests include:
The SPCA shared several cases of animals which had to be surrendered to them out of necessity.
On one occasion, a 10-year-old dog named Vonitha was rehomed as her guardian had to move into a one-room HDB flat, which prohibited pets.
Vonitha is currently waiting for adoption into a new home.
Image courtesy of the SPCA
Meanwhile, Mika, a cat, was surrendered at age 18 after his guardian died without kin. He eventually passed away at the SPCA shelter.
Image courtesy of the SPCA
Hazel, a 10-year-old dog, is currently up for adoption after her guardian also passed away.
Image courtesy of the SPCA
SPCA further shared that in some cases of pet surrender, the animals are already in a state of neglect.
This may stem from reasons such as the guardian having more pets than they can manage due to uncontrolled breeding from lack of sterilisation, or a general lack of awareness or denial about their inability to take appropriate care of their pet.
“In all cases, we are careful to reserve judgment as we respect that we can never truly appreciate another person’s struggles,” said SPCA.
The SPCA stated that pet guardians should explore rehoming options responsibly, seeking help from family and friends first.
MS News spoke to Ms Amy, the owner of a local shoe business, about her experience surrendering her pet, Chloe, to a friend.
With her long working hours, she had not been able to care for her dog properly after her domestic helper left.
Ms Amy’s job also required her to travel overseas to talk to suppliers, adding to the predicament.
Image courtesy of Ms Amy’s friend
Ms Amy struggled putting her dog up for adoption, and never actively searched for a new adopter.
However, she was finally convinced by a friend to let her take care of Chloe instead.
Although initially reluctant to part with her beloved pet, she finally agreed after mulling over the decision for a week.
Image courtesy of Ms Amy’s friend
With her pet in the care of someone she trusts, Ms Amy could travel with a peace of mind.
She also occasionally got to visit her old furry friend, who reacted by showering her with excitement and love each time.
The SPCA told MS News that the need to rehome or surrender a pet rarely arises suddenly, aside from the guardian falling seriously ill or dying.
“Even in cases of forced relocation or job loss, there is usually some grace period,” they pointed out.
They thus urged all guardians to make plans for the continued care of their pets before they become unable to.
MS News spoke to Jessica, a 37-year-old self-employed woman who moved her family — including her dog and her cat — from Singapore to Penang.
She explained that she found an agency, started medical preparations such as vaccinations, checked their licences, and prepared paperwork a few months before their move.
Image courtesy of Ms Jessica
“I found a good agency [through] friends’ recommendations, and there was no quarantine going into Malaysia,” Ms Jessica said.
Even so, she faced several challenges, including finding someone to care for her pets while she settled housing and visas.
She transported them in a long van journey, where her motion-sick dog required an anti-nausea pill from the vet.
“She only puked once during the long drive,” Ms Jessica recounted.
SPCA advised that pet guardians should only turn to public appeals after asking trusted individuals in their social circles.
If those options are a dead end, they can try posting an adoption notice on social media, forums, the SPCA’s rehoming notice board, or with other animal welfare groups.
In exceptional cases, a Special Operations Manager at the SPCA will provide relief through pet rehoming, provision of pet necessities, and connecting guardians with affordable vet care at their clinic.
The SPCA also accepts surrenders of pets to their shelters, but emphasised that this measure is a last resort.
“For pets accustomed to a home environment, the sudden transition to a shelter can be traumatic, and those with existing behavioural challenges often regress even further,” said SPCA.
For example, Sweetie Pie, a cat surrendered due to not doing well with other cats at home, suffered from poor appetite and irregular toileting habits.
Staff associated the problems with the stress of shelter life.
Image courtesy of the SPCA
The SPCA puts surrendered pets up for adoption if they pass an assessment, but the animals face long wait times, with some waiting in the shelter for as long as 12 years.
“Because no animal should spend the greater part of their life, or their last moments of life, in a shelter, we urge pet guardians to exhaust all options before surrendering their pet,” said SPCA.
Also read: Over 40 cats left behind in abandoned S’pore industrial area, funds & fosterers needed
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Featured image courtesy of the SPCA and VietJetAir.