SINGAPORE — The National Parks Board (NParks) is creating pointers to deal with the dangers related to using invasive animal coaching units, resembling electrical collars, Senior Minister of State for National Development Tan Kiat How stated throughout a parliamentary session on Thursday (7 March).
Tan additionally revealed in Parliament that he had personally examined a ‘vary of electrical collars’ on himself. He was addressing a query posed by Nee Soon GRC Member of Parliament, Louis Ng, concerning an update on its consideration of banning electrical collars for animal coaching.
Tan talked about that in 2022, the Rehoming Adoption Workgroup (RAWG), comprising NParks, animal welfare teams, veterinarians, and canine trainers, had released guidelines to standardise practices regarding canine breeding, adoption, coaching, and behavior rehabilitation.
According to Tan, contemplating RAWG’s suggestions and interesting in further consultations with key stakeholders within the animal group and the general public concerning using electrical collars, NParks is at present creating pointers to enrich the present ones on canine coaching.
He additionally stated these new pointers would spotlight the dangers of invasive coaching units, resembling electrical collars.
Tan clarified, “Ultimately, these pointers advocate good practices to be adopted by the group and aren’t meant to be legally enforceable.”
He additionally added that NParks wouldn’t hesitate to analyze and take enforcement motion underneath the Animals and Birds Act if pointless ache or struggling is discovered to be inflicted on animals.
Tan Kiat How commends Louis Ng’s ‘doggedness’ on electrical canine collar problem
In a follow-up query, the Nee Soon GRC MP questioned the issues driving the consideration of banning electrical collars, saying that their use constitutes bodily abuse as a result of misery inflicted upon dogs by trainers.
“I believe SMS Tan himself tried using the electrical collar, and it’s painful. Obviously, it is painful for the dogs as nicely.”
He additional questioned how such actions couldn’t be labeled as bodily abuse after they end in “ache and struggling” for the animals.
Responding, Tan expressed shock at Ng’s consciousness of his actions, saying, “So I did not know the member was retaining monitor of me as I did not submit about it,”
However, he acknowledged, “But as a part of the entire course of, I did certainly get my NParks colleagues to usher in a variety of electrical collars, and I attempted all of them myself.”
Tan described the expertise as notably painful, ranking it round about seven on a ache scale of 1 to 10.
He empathised with Ng’s issues and recommended his “doggedness” in elevating the problem since 2020. Tan assured that NParks is actively partaking in discussions concerning the matter, and the rules are anticipated to be launched “very quickly.”
About 1,250 suggestions on instances of animal cruelty every year
Regarding animal cruelty, Tan highlighted that from 2019 to 2023, the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) persistently obtained roughly 1,250 suggestions on instances of animal cruelty every year, together with these from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
He stated that each one of those instances underwent investigations, with round 60 instances per 12 months, or 5 per cent of the overall instances between 2019 and 2022, had been discovered to be associated to animal cruelty, leading to enforcement actions starting from warnings to prosecution.
Tan urged the general public to promptly report suspected instances of animal cruelty to AVS via its website or the Animal Response Centre hotline at 1800 476 1600, highlighting the group’s function in combating such situations.
He additionally stated that the federal government is contemplating strengthening penalties for animal cruelty as a part of its ongoing legislative assessment.
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