SPCA Annual Report 2014 1 The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) is a registered animal welfare charity with Institution of Public Character status. It is an organisation approved by the Commissioner of Charities to receive tax-deductible donations (i.e. donors are given tax deduction for donations made to the SPCA). The SPCA was set up in 1947 and registered under the Societies Act on 30 March 1961. - ROS No. 1055/47 FUNDING The SPCA is not a government agency, and does not receive any government grant. We rely on mainly donations from our supporters and fundraising activities to run our various animal welfare services and continue our important role as animal protector. Over S$2,000,000 annually is required for us to carry out our animal welfare work. OBJECTIVES VISION MISSION AMBITION Our objectives are to prevent cruelty to animals and birds, and to promote kindness to animals and birds. To promote kindness and prevent cruelty to animals through education, advocacy and action. SERVICES • • • • • • • • • A compassionate Singapore where all animals are treated with kindness and respect. To be a leading authority and advocate on animal welfare and cruelty issues in Singapore. 24-hour emergency service for sick, injured, distressed and/or very young animals Investigation of cruelty complaints Public education programme for students and adults Sterilisation voucher programme for community animals Clinic for basic treatment of community animals Animal adoption and fostering programmes Service for lost-and-found pets Advocacy for the humane treatment of animals Running an animal shelter, and supporting quarantine for unwanted, abused and/or abandoned animals SPCA Annual Report 2014 Table of Contents Page No. (Serial No.) Item(s): 02 (1) Membership 03 (2) Management Committee & Corporate Governance 04 (3) Staff & Key Personnel 05 (4) Organisation Chart 06 (5) Chairperson’s Foreword 08 (6) Executive Director’s Report 10(7) Inspectorate 20 (8) Shelter Operations 24 (9) Education 28 (10) Animal Welfare Developments 31 (11) Communications 34(12) Fundraising 36 (13) Volunteering 37 (14) Acknowledgements 40 (15) Audited Financial Statements 1 SPCA Annual Report 2014 (1) MEMBERSHIP (AS AT 30 JUNE 2014) Membership is open to all residents of Singapore or persons who have been resident and are temporarily absent therefrom, and who have attained the age of seven years. As at 30 June 2014, Membership was as follows: 2 387 754 82 1,575 Junior Senior Youth Life 2 1 Corporate Annual Corporate Life 2,801 Total SPCA Annual Report 2014 66th Report to Members (2a) MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (AS AT 30 JUNE 2014) Ms CARLA BARKER Ms MARY SOO Mr SIVAKUNALEN SAMUEL Mr TAN TOK JIN CHAIRPERSON VICE-CHAIRPERSON HONORARY SECRETARY HONORARY TREASURER Mr KLAUS DUSS Mr DINESH PASRASURUM Ms ELLA SHERMAN Ms LILLIAN WANG Ms ELLEN NG Mr QUEK SWEE KOK Ms TERESA CHIU CHI LING (2b) CORPORATE GOVERNANCE The SPCA is governed by its Management Committee whose members are all volunteers and receive no remuneration or benefits for their voluntary service. They are elected annually by the members of SPCA at its Annual General Meeting in accordance with its Constitution to hold office for one year. They will automatically retire at the next Annual General Meeting, but will be eligible for re-election. The Management Committee is responsible for setting a clear vision for SPCA through its mission and objectives, and ensures that adequate resources are allocated to the development and provision of appropriate services and activities. The Management Committee is responsible for setting the policies of SPCA, and ensures that it is governed and managed responsibly and prudently. SPCA abides by the principles and guidelines of the Code of Governance for Charities and Institutions of Public Character (IPCs) as applicable and practicable. SPCA has adopted a Code of Conduct for the guidance of its Management Committee members in effectively carrying out their duties and responsibilities. All Management Committee members undertake to abide by this Code of Conduct which includes a conflict of interest policy. During the financial year, there have been no incidences of conflicts of interest reported. 3 SPCA Annual Report 2014 (3) STAFF KEY PERSONNEL (AS AT 30 JUNE 2014) Executive Director Shelter Manager Office Manager Education Manager Ms Corinne Fong Mr Dinesh Pillai Mr Sam Heng Wai (resigned on 31 May 2014) Ms Selina Sebastian COMMUNICATIONS & EXTERNAL LIAISON PERSONNEL (AS AT 30 JUNE 2014) Communications Officer Education Officer Fundraising Executive Volunteer Coordinator 4 Mr Gabriel Wee Ms Marie Wong Mr Justin Wong Mr Lawrence Tan SPCA Annual Report 2014 STAFF COMPOSITION (AS AT 30 JUNE 2014) Key Personnel [Executive Director & Managers] 4 Shelter 14 Inspectorate / Rescue 8 Communications, Fundraising & Volunteer Coordinator Personnel 3 Administration 5 Education Officer 1 (4) STAFF ORGANISATION CHART (AS AT 30 JUNE 2014) Management Committee Executive Director Shelter Manager Finance & Admin Manager Education Manager Shelter Supervisor Inspector Account Executive Animal Care Officers Deputy Inspector HR & Admin Officer Operations Officer Junior Inspectors Admin Officer Merchandise Officer Giro Officer Volunteer Coordinator Animal Support Officers Education Officer Fundraising Executive Communications Officer Veterinary Assistant Clinic Admin Assistant 5 SPCA Annual Report 2014 (5) CHAIRPERSON’S FOREWORD dogs, cats, rabbits and other small animals than our current compound allows: optimistically, we are hoping to double the numbers. The larger site will incorporate other facilities that our current site at Mount Vernon could not. Among other new features, there will be two rehabilitation rooms for animals that need to convalesce over a period of time, and a rehabilitation pool; an Education Centre to provide a convenient setting for children and adults alike to be inspired with the right attitude and know-how in treating and caring for animals; and we will also have a dedicated Merchandise Store - a far cry from the single display case which is all we currently have. CARLA BARKER Chairperson It has been so many years since SPCA started working towards the move to new premises. Since our lease expired in 2012, we have had temporary extensions granted, currently till end of March 2016. But this year, I am pleased to report, we have taken a step closer to relocating to the new site at Sungei Tengah, as we have been granted building plan approval for the new premises, and construction works will have started by this year’s Annual General Meeting. We hope to have the new shelter ready no later than 18 months from the start of construction, and sooner if possible, by December 2015. As we have previously indicated, the new premises will see a higher-capacity shelter, for abandoned and/or abused animals to receive comfort and care in tranquil surroundings, during their stay with us. We need to house many more 6 The new Shelter will operate an environmentally sustainable ‘green’ animal shelter and office complex - one that minimally taxes non-renewable resources while maximally preserving the physical environment. It is expected to be energy-efficient, making ample use of natural light, with green spaces to better foster a tranquil environment for the animals, visitors, volunteers and staff alike. The unique hexagonal design of the animal housing in clusters will be reminiscent of a honeycomb. In line with the hexagonal design, the kennel walls will be fitted with curved ventilation blocks made from natural concrete. Compared to cage-like grills, the ventilation blocks will not only be more aesthetically pleasing, but, we are advised, will also let in more natural light and ventilation while keeping the rain out. There will be a water feature to act as a water catchment, with a filtration system that will allow us to re-use treated rain water to wash the kennels, connecting the different sections of the grounds, while pre-empting cross-contamination, and adding an air of serenity to the whole. SPCA Annual Report 2014 It is only apt that the animals carried through our doors are given the best care and rehabilitation therapy possible, and in the spirit of the times, that we work towards materialising a stronger symbiotic relationship between the animals, the landscape and people. Management Committee member, Quek Swee Kok, has agreed to oversee the building phase. It will be an onerous task, requiring regular site meetings and continual liaison with the architect, contractors and surveyor. This is a huge dedication of time and effort, which demonstrates clearly Swee Kok’s genuine love for all animals, and on behalf of us all, SPCA members and beneficiaries alike, I offer our grateful thanks. Any organisation which takes in strays, in Singapore at least, must grapple with the issue of the space to house them in. Although SPCA’s euthanasia rate has decreased, this has been attributed to fewer animals being taken in, as counselling of pet owners is rigorously carried out by frontline staff, in an effort to persuade owners to look for other alternatives for their unwanted pets. SPCA is often the shelter of choice because of space constraints elsewhere. The perennial space issue exists also at our premises (and no doubt will continue to in the future, even with expanded facilities), but turning animals away has other implications, in that they may be abandoned elsewhere to fend for themselves. Stray cats and dogs in our community need a refuge, and as much as space may be a problem, it is our duty to accommodate them where possible, if the finders are unable to do so. Keeping this in mind, SPCA cannot be a no-kill organisation, as much as we would like it to be. Animals that are deemed by a veterinarian as beyond saving, must be put down humanely by injection to prevent further suffering. But accumulating pets and strays to keep on a long-term basis is not an option for SPCA either, as the demand for space daily, prevents this. So the dilemma of taking on the responsibility for any animal that comes through our doors and deciding its fate is constantly present, as much as we try to dissuade the public from handing one over: we cannot escape the fact that homes are not easy to find for some of them, and keeping those permanently in confinement is not within our remit or capability. We tell ourselves that long-term confinement, with the animal’s quality of life being compromised, is not a good solution, but nevertheless we struggle emotionally with the sad consequences of there being not enough homes for all. As much as SPCA was the pioneer in distributing vouchers for sterilisation of community’s strays (since 1991), in an effort to reduce the numbers be ing born, we have always faced the risk of those animals being trapped by the authorities, if nuisance complaints are lodged (whether genuine or not). Nevertheless we will continue to support this initiative, as we believe it is the only effective and humane way to address the problem of uncontrolled breeding. We acknowledge the dedicated contributions of caregivers around the island who have taken upon themselves to participate in this worthwhile project. We welcome the reintroduction of the sterilisation of stray cats scheme by the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) earlier this year, and hope to assist in this programme. Dare we hope that Trap, Neuter and Release will be given AVA’s imprimatur as well? More than ever, the year ahead will see us resuming our efforts in fundraising, with the building costs being a necessary priority; and also renewing our efforts to elucidate, educate and engage with the issues in the community pertaining to animal welfare. Please give us your support. 7 SPCA Annual Report 2014 (6) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT In terms of education, an education website was developed to complement the Ministry of Education’s Character & Citizenship Education programme, developed with teachers and students in mind, so that the SPCA would provide them the resources to teach and learn about animal welfare. The website would enable educators and learners alike to download worksheets and videos about proper and responsible pet care. The website is slated for launch in 2015. CORINNE FONG Executive Director The review in this Annual Report will take on a different tone; I’d like to start by stating that we have seen a healthy up-tick for our Facebook “Likes” to over 83,000, indicating a surge in support for what SPCA does on a daily basis. We are tapping this social media platform to connect us with our target audience and to influence public opinion and improve our community engagement. This has been the fastest growth, for SPCA, of Facebook, that we have ever witnessed. 8 The Inspectorate saw about a 6% decrease in the numbers of cases of alleged cruelty and abuse – including neglect and abandonments – of animals from July 01 2013 to June 30 2014. Our Inspectorate investigated a total of 757 cases. However, a decrease in percentages is nothing to be proud of, for the major cases centred around unfavourable living conditions for pet animals. In most cases, the owners were generally cooperative with our inspectors and took pains to improve housing conditions for their pets. In extreme cases, where the owners showed no urgency to make those changes, we were forced to refer them to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) for further action. Of notable mention is the owner who was adjudged to have caused his pet Border Collie to be suffering from stress as the dog was exposed to the sun and rain constantly and subsequently fined $5,000; another was the case of a pet mongrel dog that was starved to death, SPCA Annual Report 2014 arising from severe pet neglect, and its owner was fined $10,000. Both cases were referred to the AVA. Which leads me to the Animal Welfare Legislative Review Committee (AWLRC). In terms of Advocacy, the SPCA is very pleased that we were deeply involved with the AWLRC from the get-go, which I briefly mentioned in last year’s Annual Report. This year, the offshoot of the AWLRC has been the MultiStakeholder Collaboration Committee (MSCC), in which three working groups were created, namely the Code of Animal Welfare for Pet Owners and for the Pet Industry to give more meat to responsibilities expected of pet owners and the persons in the commercial aspect of breeding, selling and grooming of animals, including animal shelters and boarding facilities; the second working group comprises members who will study legislation, and the third working group will focus on education and community outreach programmes. In terms of licensing for pet shops, we are glad that the AVA announced two new licensing conditions, one of which was the mandatory ‘no sale’ to persons under the age of 16; and the second was the mandatory Pet Purchase Declaration (PPD). These two conditions were formulated as a direct result of two of the 24 points recommended under the AWLRC. Project ADORE (ADOpt and REhome), a programme initiated by SPCA and ASD in 2011, whereby local mixed breed dogs could be re-homed in HDB flats, was into its second year of a two-year pilot project, when the Ministry of National Development (MND) formally announced that Project ADORE was to become a permanent programme in late May 2014. Under this programme, HDB flat owners can adopt local mixed breed dogs each of up to a height of 50 cm and a weight of 15 kg. The SPCA had been waiting anxiously for this to happen and we are glad that we’ve been given the green light to continue. In the area of campaigns, the SPCA raised awareness of the cruel practices of puppy mills last November. We produced in-train panel advertisements that were displayed in the SMRT trains for approximately six weeks. Of special pride is the fact that our euthanasia rates have seen a constant decline over the years, and last year was certainly no exception. This is indicative of our continued efforts to find solutions to a continual inflow of surrendered pets and abandoned animals that are being presented to us daily. As in previous Annual Reports, I must make mention of my heartfelt gratitude to my Management Committee for their guidance, and to my staff and colleagues for their unwavering support. The SPCA’s inspectors, shelter and administration departments and animal care officers soldiered on under trying circumstances. Credit must also go to the education, fundraising, volunteer, communications, and merchandise teams which have done their best with continued commitment to the organisation. I am very proud to work alongside each and every one of them. 9 SPCA Annual Report 2014 (7) INSPECTORATE The SPCA investigated a total of 757 reports of alleged cruelty to animals, including neglect and/or abandonment of various species of pets, from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014. This represents a decrease of almost six per cent from the previous year. Our Inspectors counselled owners to improve conditions for their pets where necessary, offering advice on proper pet care, in addition to providing them with pet care leaflets and brochures. Solutions often had to be worked through to the benefit of the pet and the pet owner. Follow-ups were carried out to check on the conditions of the animals and these continue until improvements were made. As the SPCA has no legal powers of enforcement, extreme cases, in which conditions failed to improve, were referred to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) – which regulates and enforces the Animals & Birds Act – for further action. Cases mainly concerned general pet neglect, where the pet animal has been poorly cared for and not given due or sufficient veterinary care and attention, and/or pet abandonment. Among the more notable cases are the following. Cruelty to Cats Pasir Ris Neglected Cat This cat was brought to the SPCA, by the finder in a very bad condition. Its eyes were oozing blood and swollen. 10 The finder informed us where the owner was staying and we went to the owner’s house to inform him that his cat was at SPCA. We advised him to take his pet for the necessary treat ment at a vet clinic as soon as possible and that we would follow up. Within a week we received a call from a member of the public about a cat seen at level three of a multi-storey car-park. On arrival at the scene, it was confirmed to be the same cat. The cat was seen by our consultant veterinarians on three occasions, and the owner was advised to humanely euthanize the cat, in view of its serious condition. As the owner did not have the financial means to treat the cat, he decided to have it humanely put down. The case has been referred to the AVA for further investigations, in view of the extreme neglect suffered by the cat. SPCA Annual Report 2014 Bukit Batok Caged Cats These three adult cats were kept in a small cage, for prolonged periods, as the owner also kept a dog. There was no water provided. Although the cats appeared to be in good physical condition and the cage was clean, their limited living space posed a problem. cases of dead or injured cats in the neighbourhood. The cat pictured here was found dead in a drain and its body was subsequently sent to the AVA for a post-mortem. AVA informed us that there were stray dogs reported roaming in the vicinity, having received reports. The case is on-going and we will advise further once we have gathered sufficient evidence of abuse. Catholic High School, Kitten Stuck on a Glue Board Trap We persuaded the owner to surrender the cats to SPCA, for re-homing. All three cats were later adopted. Telok Blangah Crescent, Cat Found Dead Several cats in the Telok Blangah Crescent area were reportedly abused and/or killed. However, due to insufficient evidence, we could not proceed further in our investigation. Some of the bodies were either disposed of, or the cases were reported weeks later. The cat feeders were advised to call us immediately, should they come across further We were alerted by students of Catholic High School to a kitten stuck on a glue board trap. The kitten was promptly brought back to SPCA, and dedicated clinic and shelter staff worked on removing every bit of glue from its body over the course of the next few days. We discovered that a canteen operator had placed the glue board to trap rodents in a storeroom but the kitten was trapped instead. The operator was alerted by the kitten’s distressed mews, and she sought help from the students who quickly called us for help. The school’s Operations Manager was alerted to this incident, and the canteen operator was instructed to cease the usage of such traps following SPCA’s advice. The kitten was subsequently adopted. 11 SPCA Annual Report 2014 Tampines Avenue 4 Abandoned Kitten We received a report that a kitten had been dumped in a plastic bag in a rubbish bin, at the void deck of Block 804 in Tampines Avenue 4. The kitten was rescued by a member of the public who had heard its mews of distress coming from the rubbish bin. The finder, with her friend’s help, spotted the kitten at the bottom of a pile of rubbish, tied in a plastic bag and soaked in what appears to be its own urine. She brought the animal home, providing the tender care it needed. SPCA put up appeal posters for witnesses to come forward with information on the culprit, also notifying the AVA. Although there was a police closed circuit TV system in the area, we were unable to get any further leads due to the way in which the camera was angled. A positive outcome is that the kitten is currently homed in the finder’s friend’s household, and faring well. Cruelty to Dogs Dog Abandoned at SPCA’s Premises An elderly man abandoned his son’s dog, a cross-breed, outside SPCA’s compound one morning and drove off. The dog was helplessly wandering outside the premises and was brought in by our staff and volunteers. Our CCTV footage was unable to capture the vehicle’s license plate number. 12 The man’s son came the very next day to claim it and said he would assist with investigations on his father’s act of dog abandonment. The son was able to claim the dog only after providing us the address (of the dog’s new location) whilst giving the assurance that it would not be returned to its former residence. The case is currently under investigation by the AVA. SPCA Annual Report 2014 Bedok North Abandoned Dog A Cocker Spaniel was found at the ground floor lift lobby of a HDB unit along Bedok North Road. No one we spoke to from the block was able to identify the dog and a check with AVA’s licensing department did not produce any results. Due to its bad skin condition and poor overall health, the dog had to be humanely euthanised. Hougang Avenue Neglected Shih-Tzu This Shih-Tzu, about 18 years old according to its owner, was surrendered to us to be humanely euthanised as the owner had no financial means to take it to a veterinarian or have it groomed. As a result, the dog’s nails were so overgrown that the dog was unable to stand or walk. The dog also had very flaky skin and a growth on one of its eyes. The case was referred to the AVA, and we are still awaiting their decision on this. Sims Drive, Pet Dog Falls to Its Death A Chihuahua Cross dog was found dead at the foot of an HDB block in Sims Drive, with what appeared to be “cuts” and puncture wounds. We traced the owner from the dog’s microchip to a 21st floor unit of the block where the dog was found. We concluded that it was possible for the dog to have fallen from within the unit, as there was a sliding door leading out onto the parapet. A fall from such a height onto the grill of the drain would have caused the marks seen and according to our veterinarian, the puncture mark could have been from a bone piercing through the skin, also a result of the fall. We counselled the owner never to leave the sliding door open so as to prevent their remaining dog from suffering the same fate. 13 SPCA Annual Report 2014 Commonwealth Crescent, Dog Tied to a Clothes Pole Bedok South Dog Tied to a Tree Stump A large black dog was found tied to a tree stump at the entrance of a car park at Bedok South Road. A Golden Retriever was found tied to a clothes pole in the Commonwealth Crescent estate, outside of its house without shelter while it was raining. The caller who had contacted us after spotting the dog added that the leash used to restrain it was very short, resulting in the dog being unable to move about or fully lie down. We found the dog slightly drenched but active and friendly. The dog’s owner was asleep and was not aware that it had rained. He shared that he was looking after the dog for someone, and that he tied the dog outside for just a while because he had just cleaned his apartment and was waiting for the floor to dry. In our conversation with him, we emphasised the importance of providing proper shelter, water and care for the dog. The dog was brought into the house immediately. 14 Our Inspector deduced from the way the dog was leashed up that the dog’s owner or caretaker may have tied the dog there as a temporary measure before going off to purchase goods from the nearby shops. After waiting for close to thirty minutes, we spotted a foreign domestic worker approaching the dog with several shopping bags in hand. We advised the helper against leaving the dog unsupervised while shopping as the dog could have strayed onto the road, endangering its life or possibly unintentionally hurting unknowing passers-by who could have approached it the wrong way. The dog had a microchip and we checked its details. We found out that the dog was adopted from us and subsequently called up the owners to inform them of what had happened. We advised them to be more watchful when leaving the dog to their helper’s care and to counsel their helper accordingly. SPCA Annual Report 2014 Defu Lane Tethered Dog This Shih-Tzu was reported to have been tied outside a light industry unit in Defu Lane on the second floor and left there day and night. Our investigations showed that the dog was there only in the day, but at night it would be kept inside the unit to move around freely. The owner shared that the dog is an old rescued dog and that he has been taking good care of it. We advised the owner on timely and adequate veterinary care, especially in the case of older dogs and to tie the dog’s leash at its neck height rather than high up on the corridor railing. On a follow-up visit, the leash was found to be fastened more favourably at a lower position, allowing the dog more ample moving space, and was tied at a different spot from that witnessed in our first visit. Cruelty to Other Animal Types Tanjong Katong Caged Peacocks We received reports of two peacocks kept in a small cage at Nam Seng Bird Shop, at Tanjong Katong Road. Upon arrival at the shop, we saw the birds kept in a cage out in the open outside the bird shop. The cage measured approximately 3ft x 1.5ft. Pictures of these birds were already circulating on online social media sites, and we contacted the AVA to obtain more information about the shop. We were told that their officers were also on the way to the shop to find out the reason for the birds being there and to investigate the birds’ unsatisfactory living conditions. The birds were removed after the AVA’s visit. As it was a breach of their licensing conditions, the pet shop will be taken to task for keeping the peacocks. 15 SPCA Annual Report 2014 Eunos Crescent, Poorly Kept Frogs The case was immediately referred to the AVA and we are awaiting the outcome of their investigation. A customer of a seafood stall in Eunos Crescent reported to us about live frogs kept in poor conditions, and that at least one among them was observed to be dead. Keng Lee Road, Poorly Kept Terrapins We went to investigate, and found there was indeed a dead frog among the live ones. The water in their tank was also extremely dirty. The seafood stall was closed at the time, but we informed the coffee shop supervisor that we would be bringing up this matter to the AVA. We continued to receive feedback from members of the public about the poor living conditions of live seafood in Singapore, and have urged the AVA and National Environment Agency (NEA), to improve and enforce better welfare standards and to mete out more stringent measures against such stall operators. Upper Serangoon, Poorly Kept Fighting Fish A concerned member of the public sent us this picture of fighting fish kept in small plastic bags on display for sale at an aquarium store. Apart from being kept in very small plastic bags, the fish were also exposed to sunlight as they were displayed just outside the shop. 16 We received a report of five terrapins kept in a water fountain/feature without proper shelter in a clan association’s premises. During our visit we found that there was only one rock for their basking around. Although there was no proper shelter, the shadow cast by the statue provided shade for the terrapins during different times of the day. We advised the association staff to provide more rocks to enhance the terrapins’ living conditions. On a follow-up visit, we noted that there were more rocks placed in the water feature. All the terrapins were found to be swimming about comfortably and were in good physical condition. We also noted that the water and the area around it were clean and the temperature was neither too warm nor too cold. SPCA Annual Report 2014 Bedok Reservoir, Poorly Kept Rabbits Choa Chu Kang, Inhumane Treatment of Pigeons Seven rabbits were found outside of an owner’s HDB unit, kept in two cages and a carrier. They were kept outside all day and the cages were messy and dirty. After a couple of visits, we managed to speak to the owner and advised her extensively on the importance of space, hygiene and shelter for the rabbits. When asked, she said that only two of the rabbits were hers and that she was helping her friend, who had just given birth, to look after the rest. She informed us that the rabbit in the small carrier would be kept in such conditions for the next six months. We advised against it and reminded her that she had to make improvements to the rabbits’ living condition as soon as possible, either by returning the rabbits to her friend or finding someone else to look after them We followed up on the case within the week and saw only two rabbits remaining, both housed in a bigger cage. The carrier and the other cage were both empty. The owner of the remaining two rabbits informed us that her friend had taken the other rabbits back home. A cleaner hired by the Town Council was reportedly seen hitting live birds and dumping them in a plastic bag. Upon investigation, we found out that the Town Council had engaged a private pest control company to cull the pigeons around the area. We spoke to the cleaner and his supervisor during our visit and explained to them the need for humane measures in the disposal of culled pigeons. The Town Council staff acknowledged our concerns and promised to look into the proper disposal of pigeons. We decided to still refer the matter to the AVA, officially citing the area Town Council and cleaner involved in the catching and disposal of semi-conscious pigeons. Updates will be provided once the AVA has concluded their investigation. 17 SPCA Annual Report 2014 PROSECUTIONS Roy Ling - Convicted of Animal Cruelty, in August 2013 August 2011. In the course of the next three months we proceeded to gather evidence, namely, photographs and video recordings and submitted them as proof of the situation to the AVA. AVA’s own inspectors and veterinarians also visited Mr Ling and advised him to improve the living conditions of his pet dog. SPCA continued to submit feedback to the AVA as we received more reports of his continuing to keep his pet dog in the balcony. In December 2011, SPCA lodged a Police Report and Magistrate’s Complaint. On 20 August 2013, the Judge ruled in favour of the Prosecution when he found Roy Ling Chung Yee guilty of subjecting his pet dog to unnecessary suffering by keeping it in the apartment balcony, exposing it to sun and rain, and not providing it with adequate food and water. Mr Ling was convicted of animal cruelty under section 42(1)(e) of the Animals and Birds Act, Chapter 7, and fined S$5,000. SPCA was first notified in June 2011 by a concerned resident at the condominium that the dog, a Border Collie, was seen almost every day on the balcony and exposed to the sun and rain. Other residents of the same condominium also stepped forward to lodge complaints with SPCA about the dog’s situation. SPCA’s inspectors attempted to contact Mr Ling several times but he did not respond. We then alerted the AVA in 18 With pictorial evidence taken by our inspectors and testimonial evidence provided by witnesses, the AVA filed a charge against the owner. While the dog was not ill and did not sustain any physical injuries, the Judge agreed that its welfare was neglected and that a balcony was no place for a dog to live its life; the dog is finally allowed in the house. SPCA Annual Report 2014 Lim Soo Seng - Convicted of Animal Cruelty, in April 2014 On 17 May 2013, when businessman Lim Soo Seng’s eight-year-old mongrel Chilli died, it was severely emaciated and clearly seemed starved and ne glected. Lim brought the carcass to SPCA shortly afterwards for disposal. The SPCA vet who examined its body verified that the dog had been severely emaciated, and a post-mortem showed it might have been starved for months. We then informed the AVA. Close to a year later, on 24 April 2014, the court verdict was passed on this issue - Lim, 76, was handed the maximum fine of S$10,000 for animal cruelty, the first time ever such an amount has been imposed by the court for this offence. Lim pleaded guilty to unreasonably failing to take the dog for timely treatment, causing it unnecessary suffering. The court heard that he had adopted the dog, a female cross-breed, seven years ago from SPCA, when it was about merely a year old. Lim accepted that he failed to exercise reasonable care and supervision. SPCA then appealed to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) for a heavier sentence - a custodial sentence - to be meted out. We also sent an open letter to the press (on 2 May 2014), urging our courts to hand a jail sentence to Lim. Given that this was one of the most severe cases of animal neglect and cruelty in recent years, a jail term, in addition to the fine, would have been a stronger preventive move against a repeat offence in future. Our position is that the court sentence fell far short of community expectations by not providing a deterrent - to repeat offenders who can afford to pay the fine. On 11 June 2014, the AGC replied, with no jail term to accompany the fine. Though Lim was not jailed, particularly on social media platforms like Facebook, our online supporters and commenters spoke up for the dog, some of whom even offered to initiate an online petition for a jail term for Lim. 19 SPCA Annual Report 2014 (8) SHELTER OPERATIONS The SPCA shelter staff, comprising the Shelter Supervisors, Animal Care Officers, Animal Support Officers and Clinic staff, have been responsible for the day-to-day running of the shelter, clinic and 24-hour emergency service for the rescue of sick, injured, distressed and/ or very young animals. Our shelter staff, along with our Adoption Counsellors (mainly trained volunteers), facilitate the day-to-day adoption procedures in our shelter, helping to counsel and educate prospective adopters about the know-how of animal adoption and care, and making it possible for our animals that are publicly available for adoption to find placement in suitable, loving, forever homes. We also operate a lost-and-found service, as well as a Foster Care Programme under the administration of our Clinic Admin Assistant. Our clinic also provides 20 basic veterinary treatment and sterilisation of our in-house animals. CLINIC Our clinic sterilised 138 community animals, and issued 1,538 sterilisation vouchers from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014. In addition, over the same 12-month period, we sterilised 263 of the younger animals below five months old (like puppies and kittens) already adopted from our shelter, as well as 448 animals (aged five months or older) either already adopted from or still at our shelter as at 30 June 2014. Thus, the total number of sterilisations carried out and facilitated by our clinic was 2,387 (This total is lower than the previous financial year’s (2012-2013) which was 2,493, but higher than 2011-2012’s total of 2,112.) SPCA Annual Report 2014 ANIMAL STATISTICS FROM 1 JULY 2013 TO 30 JUNE 2014 Note Notes s A ANIMALS IN SHELTER AS AT 1 JULY 2013 G INTAKE (of Live Animals only) VIA: Emergency Rescues Surrenders by Members of the Public Owner-requested Euthanasia TOTAL INTAKE [B to D] Subtraction of animals, from D, assessed as unhealthy and untreatable, and thus humanely euthanized ADJUSTED INTAKE [E less F] H I J OUT-GOING (ANIMALS LEAVING SHELTER) VIA: Adoptions Out-going Transfers to Other Organisations Lost Animals Returned to Owner / Claimed / Released K L M N O P Q R EUTHANASIA STATISTICS Healthy Aggressive/Temperamental Too Young (0 to 3 weeks old) Sick/Injured but put down due to other reasons Sick/Injured and untreatable TOTAL NUMBER EUTHANISED [K to O] Owner-requested Euthanasia (sick & untreatable only) ADJUSTED TOTAL EUTHANASIA [P less Q] S T U SUBTOTAL OUT-GOING (excl .Owner-req. Euthanasia) [H+I+J+R] Died or Lost in shelter care TOTAL OUT-GOING (excl. Owner-req. Euthanasia) [S+T] V ANIMALS IN SHELTER AS AT 30 JUNE 2014 [A+G less U] W LIVE RELEASE RATE: [H + I + J] / [S] x 100% B C D E F Notes: i i ii iii iv v DOGS CATS OTHERS TOTAL 81 88 42 211 228 511 31 770 815 619 27 1,461 707 787 5 1,499 1,750 1,917 63 3,730 -31 739 -27 1,434 -5 1,494 -63 3,667 228 2 324 434 0 281 436 634 81 1,098 636 686 0 27 21 26 132 206 -31 175 0 26 225 79 360 690 -27 663 0 3 10 22 137 172 -5 167 0 56 256 127 629 1,068 -63 1,005 729 13 742 1,378 75 1,453 1,318 166 1,484 3,425 254 3,679 78 69 52 199 75.90% 51.89% 87.33% 70.66% Surrenders by Members of the Public: Include animals found and brought in to SPCA for claim by their owners, and animals given up by their owners formally at SPCA ii Other Organisations: the Jurong Bird Park, the Animal Concerns Research & Education Society, the Zoo, or the AVA iii Claimed: Rehomed with new, suitable owners; Released: (of cats and birds) after clinical treatment and/or sterilisation, being returned to their respective source communities iv These include animals that are old & with illnesses v These include animals that are untreatable &/or with a terminal injury/illness 21 SPCA Annual Report 2014 FOSTERING [Introduced to help us save more lives, fostering is a way of providing individual attention and accommodation for animals too young to be kept in a shelterm environment (i.e. under two months) or animals that need specialised care (requiring medical treatment and/ or behavioural rehabilitation).] foster these animals. SPCA staff, too, go beyond the call of duty, fostering very young animals. Providing fosterers for animals with certain health issues has helped provide a welcome alternative to humane euthanasia, as these animals would then be nursed, or brought, to better health, given the necessary care and a more conducive environment (usually in the fosterer’s own home). This is so that the animal concerned can be ready for adoption, upon attaining the requisite age and/or readiness to adapt to kennel, nursery or cattery life. From 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014, the SPCA shelter operations saw a total of 199 animals (dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs and gerbils) fostered, prior to returning to us for adoption. This is made possible by an increased number of volunteers (18 years and above) who have signed up to For the period 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014, humane euthanasia rates saw a plunge from the corresponding figures for the preceding financial year(s):Financial Year Total Number of Animals Humanely Euthanised: Dogs: Cats: Others: TOTAL: 2011 - 2012 793 1,698 1,028 3,519 2012 - 2013 512 996 447 1,955 2013 - 2014 206 690 172 This is partly the result of increased efforts to counsel owners and to persuade owners to rehome their unwanted pets themselves, and only to surrender them to SPCA as a last resort, after having exhausted all 22 1,068 % decline in total, year-on-year, averaged across animal types: 45.0, from FY 2011-2012 to FY 2012-2013 45.4, from FY 2012-2013 to FY 2013-2014 other available options. The Rehoming Notice Board on SPCA’s official website has also played a great part, as it has provided an alternative avenue for these owners, enabling them to advertise their pets for adoption SPCA Annual Report 2014 (by suitable new owners) instead of surrendering them to SPCA. Last but not least, fostering out animals has also helped relieve pressure on the shelter, at least temporarily, given that we have thus far grappled consistently with space and resource limitations. ST JOHN’S ISLAND CAT STERILISATION PROGRAMME From 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014, we conducted two rounds of our Trap-Neuter-Release exercise, in November 2013 and in January 2014, as our fifth and sixth visits respectively to St John’s Island, since the programme’s inception in 2010. For both visits, teams of SPCA staff members, volunteers and volunteer veterinarians descended upon the island to carry out a sterilisation exercise, to help contain the growing stray cat population there. A rough estimate had put the number of unsterilised cats there at approximately 80 to 100 at the start of this programme. As a result of our regular sterilisation operations, we have, by now, managed to sterilise about 90 per cent of the cat population there. The next exercise is set to take place in late 2014. ADOPTION OF DOGS - PROJECT ADORE FORMALISATION Project ADORE (ADOption & REhoming of dogs in public housing households) has formally transited from a pilot scheme to a permanent programme, officially announced by the Ministry of National Development (MND) on 28 May 2014 in parliament. This project was first mooted by SPCA and the Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD) in 2011, and then piloted by the MND, AVA and HDB in 2012. Under ADORE, HDB flat owners can adopt local mixed breed dogs which are up to 15 kg in weight and 50 cm in height. These limits are a slight in crease from the size of toy breeds allowed in HDB flats. Interested adopters are allowed to keep only one dog per flat and have to abide by stringent ownership conditions. Over the last two years, a total of at least 64 dogs have been successfully rehomed under ADORE. To date, none of the adopted dogs have been returned to SPCA’s or ASD’s shelters. One example of a Project ADOREeligible dog that has been recently adopted by a HDB homeowner, thanks to this formalisation scheme, is our very own cross-breedmongrel, Tasha (pictured here), who has been in our shelter since early 2012. Tasha was adopted successfully in May 2014. 23 SPCA Annual Report 2014 (9) EDUCATION Our Education Department, consisting of our Education Manager and Education Officer, saw another successful year of educational and outreach programmes for institutions of learning as well as the general public. Talks and Visits have spawned collaborations that took our education initiatives further. One such collaboration is called Project PAAWS (Preventing Animal Abuse With Singapore), comprising alumni of Anderson Secondary who ran a roadshow combining education, fundraising and fun at Jurong Point Shopping Mall. In total, they have reached out to more than 3,000 people in the community and taught the latter how they could play their part in preventing animal abuse. Another collaboration was with a group of students from Raffles Girls’ Secondary, on the issue of fur, by way of Project Furget Fur. Together, we conducted two workshops during the March school holidays for our youth supporters. World Animal Day 2013 We gave 98 talks at academic institutions which included primary and secondary schools, Institute of Technical Education (ITE) colleges, junior colleges, student care centres, polytechnics and other academic organisations. Topics covered during the presentation included what the SPCA does, the importance of responsible pet ownership and how to stop animal abuse. Feedback provided for these sessions has been very positive. As a result of our efforts, over 50,000 people (inclusive of students we gave talks to and our many corporate visitors) have come to embrace the importance of responsible pet ownership and being kind to animals. Many of our talks 24 World Animal Day was celebrated at United Square Shopping Mall over three days from 13 to 15 September 2013. SPCA collaborated with the Community Outreach team of the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority and students of the Singapore Management University (SMU) who are members of SMU-PAW (People for Animal Welfare). We also invited the following nine animal welfare groups - ACRES, Action for Singapore Dogs, Animal SPCA Annual Report 2014 Lovers League, Humane Society of Singapore, House Rabbit Society of Singapore, Cat Welfare Society, Causes for Animals, Noah’s Ark Cares and Save Our Street Dogs - to join us in celebrating the event. Nine of SPCA’s animals were also adopted in the event. To further celebrate World Animal Day, “Our Silent Community” - a photographic essay about the lives of shelter workers, street animals, and animals at SPCA made its debut public exhibition at Select Books along Armenian Street. Photojoumalism students from CHIJ St. Joseph’s Convent, through their photo-works, brought to life visually the journey depicted in the essay. educating youths that every animal in a shelter deserves a second chance to find a new home, and encouraging potential pet owners to adopt and not buy. The book retails at $5 a piece, and all proceeds from its sale go directly to SPCA. Complimentary copies were also sent to the 400 pre-schools and 200 primary schools in Singapore. Commending Animal Heroes from Catholic High School “Toby Wants A Home” Book Launch At our education talk at Catholic High School on 27 January 2014, we commended the boys who helped us rescue a kitten stuck on a glue board in October 2013. Our Education Manager presented them, on stage, with an SPCA T-shirt and commendation letter each. At our World Animal Day celebrations, “Toby Wants a Home”, a book written by Low Hui Ching and illustrated by Antonija Gros and produced in collaboration with our Education Department and volunteers, was launched. Written for children between four and twelve years, the book offers an insight into the life of a shelter dog saved from the streets, inspired by the true story of a dog named Valli adopted from SPCA. The book is aimed at Advocacy against Keeping of Pets in School In November 2013, acting on feedback received about a school’s plan to set up a rabbit enclosure, SPCA and House Rabbit Society of Singapore wrote a letter to all kindergartens and primary and secondary schools to discourage the keeping of pets in schools. 25 SPCA Annual Report 2014 Advocacy against Longkang Fishing In December 2013, acting on feedback from a concerned parent, we sent a letter to all kindergartens and primary schools to discourage learning trips that incorporate longkang fishing into their itineraries. It has been observed that drain fish often get injured or even killed when children trample on them while being in the longkang waters. Nets and plastic pails employed during longkang fishing also subject the fish to great stress. Moreover, such an activity reduces fish to mere play objects, taking away the need to respect life. The schools generally reacted positively, and accepted our standpoint. In particular, Active Learners, a childcare centre in Woodlands, actually thanked us for the letter. Counselling Students Who Abused a Cat educational institutions. The website will be launched at the start of the school term in 2015. Contribution to Temasek Polytechnic’s Skills Certificate in Pet Care and Management We also contributed to the Skills Certificate in Pet Care and Management (Companion Animals) course run by Temasek Polytechnic. We shared many case studies of animal neglect and abuse, using the cases to impart relevant skills and information to pet shop attendants and personnel, so that they could better educate potential and present pet owners about responsible pet ownership. Promotion of Animal Welfare in Educational Assessment Books In November 2013, we provided counselling support to Greenridge Primary School, when three of their Primary 3 students abused a cat. The school helped SPCA communicate the right message to their pupils. Involvement in Character and Citizenship Education Syllabus An education website, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, targeted at teachers and students has been developed, to provide them with the resources to teach and learn about animal welfare. From downloadable worksheets to videos about proper pet care, these resources are meant to complement the existing ones in 26 Marshall Cavendish Education worked with us on the English Companion Booklets for Primary 6 pupils. For one of the booklets, whose theme was prevention of cruelty to animals, we provided pictures and devised a continuous writing project centred around how one can help an animal in distress. SPCA Annual Report 2014 We also provided content for a Malay language textbook and activity book for secondary school pupils, called Jauhari. Included in this package is a text adapted from SPCA’s press release, dated 23 February 2013, titled “Pet Neglect on The Rise”. Learners will be prompted to write in the Malay language to describe two cats cramped within a cage. Collaboration with Cheerful Dogs In December 2013, the Education Team, along with Cheerful Dogs, spearheaded an adoption profiling initiative which would better match adopters with adoptees via personality profiling. Also, four workshops, targeted at the general public to help them understand the training needs of their dogs, were organised in 2014. Collaboration on Citi-YMCA Youth For Causes Project We worked with four groups (Oppfurtunity, SOAP, SEAL, Journey With Me) from different learning institutions in Singapore. Besides creating awareness for the animal welfare cause, the students raised over $25,000 for the animals by selling merchandise like sweets and T-shirts using the $1,600 seed funding given to each group. Training of Animal Ambassadors We have trained about 100 volunteers as Animal Ambassadors, and on the finer points of engaging the public at our events, also equipping them with the know-how of pet care information and adoption. Continuing what we have started the previous year, deploying Animal Ambassadors at public events has served as extensions of our education team, to better educate the public at large about the animal welfare cause and what SPCA does. Managing a Youth Database To better engage youths, a youth database was created and maintained. We constantly created opportunities for our youth supporters to volunteer at SPCA, through helping out with simple administrative work or mass mail-outs and/or in events. We also organised workshops and talks for these groups during the school holidays. The database currently lists over 1,800 youth supporters. Collaboration with Toggle In line with the new education website, we worked with the Toggle team of MediaCorp on a series of pet care videos for the website, focusing on general pet care and community animals. 27 SPCA Annual Report 2014 (10) ANIMAL WELFARE DEVELOPMENTS AVA Implements Two New Pet Shop Licensing Conditions On 30 December 2013, the AVA announced that there would be two additional licensing conditions for those selling cats, dogs and rabbits, to take effect from 1 January 2014. These changes follow the Ministry of National Development’s (MND) acceptance of all 24 recommendations proposed by the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee (AWLRC), as announced on 26 April 2013. MND said it would partner with the AVA to work out detailed implementation plans and roll out the AWLRC recommendations in phases. From 1 January 2014, new licensing rules have taken effect for all pet shops in Singapore: (1)Individuals under 16 years of age will not be allowed to buy cats, dogs or rabbits unless they are accompanied by their parents or legal guardians. (2) Pet shops must also assess the suitability of their customers as pet owners, prior to sale of the pet animal concerned. As part of the pre-sale screening process, both potential pet buyers and pet retailers will have to complete the Pet Purchase Declaration. These two conditions were formulated after consultation with pet retailers and the Pets Enterprises and Traders 28 Association, with respect to the AWLRC recommendations. They are meant to address the issues of impulse buying of pets and abandonment due to lack of adequate knowledge by potential pet owners. Pet shops were given six months to adjust and comply with the new conditions. After 1 July 2014, AVA will take enforcement action against non-compliant pet retailers. Prior to the formation of the AWLRC in April 2012, SPCA had, in December 2011, submitted a Proposal for Legislative Reform (Animals and Birds Act, Part IV, the ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ sections 42 to 44) to the MND, offering our recommendations to strengthen animal welfare laws in Singapore. This proposal can be read at http:// www.spca.org.sg/PDF/LegislativeRe formfinal.pdf. Apart from proposing increased penalties for existing offences based on cruelty, we have proposed that failure to take care of the welfare of pets should also constitute an offence and be punishable as such. Over the past financial year, SPCA has continued to offer insight and input in the shaping and implementation of the AWLRC recommendations. We attended every single AWLRC-related meeting with the MND, AVA and other animal welfare groups over the past twelve months, and have offered qualitative input and suggestions towards the respective AWLRC codes. SPCA Annual Report 2014 SPCA Appeals for Jail Term for Businessman Convicted of Animal Cruelty On 24 April 2014, businessman Lim Soo Seng was charged with a monetary fine of S$10,000 for animal cruelty, the highest amount ever in Singapore, about a year after his eight-year-old emaciated dog (Chilli) died from severe pet negligence. On 5 May 2014, SPCA appealed to the Attorney-General’s Chambers for a heavier sentence - a custodial sentence - to be meted out. We also sent an open letter to the press (on 2 May 2014), urging our courts to hand a jail sentence to Lim. To this end, we also penned an open letter published (on 9 June 2014) on the Straits Times Forum page, affirming our stance that a criminal offence of such a nature is not to be tolerated. We expressed our support of our Straits Times Forum readers who feel that owners found guilty of pet neglect should be punished far more severely. On SPCA’s Facebook page, www.face book.com/spcasingapore, our numerous ous online followers and supporters made known their dissatisfaction with the court verdict, many of whom also raised the need to have the offender jailed and/or do community service at SPCA’s shelter. Finally, on 11 June 2014, the AGC responded to SPCA’s appeal. They assessed that the “S$10,000 fine imposed, the maximum fine under the law, was not manifestly inadequate”, and therefore, did not appeal against that. Thus, Lim was not jailed. We have accepted the AGC’s final stance on the court verdict. That said, they have extended an invitation to us to work with them on future cases. SPCA Pushes for Release of Remaining 23 Marine Life Park Dolphins from Resorts World Sentosa On 4 June 2014, we sent an open letter to the Press, urging the Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) to end the dolphin exploitation, after the fourth dolphin death linked to it. The death of Sharmila, a bottlenose dolphin, was announced in a blogpost by the Marine Life Park in May 2014. This has become the fourth dolphin casualty associated with the Marine Life Park. (In 2010, two dolphins meant for the park died in Langkawi due to a water-borne bacterial infection. A third dolphin died on board a flight to Singapore in November 2012.) We spoke of the need to minimise the extent of animal cruelty involved. We opined that “in a country like Singapore, with the Wild Animals and Birds Act in place prohibiting any person from killing, taking or keeping any wild animal, it is extremely disappointing that we are accepting these wild-caught dolphins for the purpose of forcing 29 SPCA Annual Report 2014 them to adapt to an unnatural lifestyle in RWS’ Marine Life Park attraction.” “Subjecting these wild dolphins to a forced lifestyle in captivity, tamed against their will and introducing paid interaction programmes with the public marketed as ‘engagement learning’, is, in essence, unabashed animal exploitation. The act of catching and confining these animals, ... cannot possibly contribute towards constructive education of the public on marine life and environmental issues”, we asserted in our media statement. Our media statement was published on Channel NewsAsia online, The Straits Straits Times online, The New Paper, Today (both print and online), AsiaOne News online, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) media platforms, WildSingapore (www. wildsingapore.com) and, also, The Dodo online, (www.thedodo.com) an international newsletter. SPCA’s position has always been “‘NO!’ to dolphins in captivity” – a message we will continue to champion hereafter. SAY NO TO DOLPHINS IN CAPTIVITY Dolphins are intelligent and social creatures that, in the wild, interact with hundreds of pod-mates, hunt communally, and have entire coastlines as their playground. In captivity, all of this is lost. The SPCA is against the capture of these creatures from the wild. We oppose on ethical grounds the use, conlinement, exhibition or performance by marine mammals. Stiffer Penalties for Animal Abuse to be Announced in Late 2014 On 8 January 2014, Law Minister K. Shanmugam announced that penaties for animal abusers will be made more severe, in order to send a “strong deterrent message” through legislative changes. The tougher animal protection tion Bill will be introduced and tabled 30 in Parliament, slated for the last quarter of 2014. Under these proposed amendments to the Animals and Birds Act, penalties for animal abuse will be increased, particularly for repeat offenders and animal-related businesses. SPCA Annual Report 2014 (11) COMMUNICATIONS SPCA Publications Each issue has had coverage of the noteworthy news and developments relevant to the respective quarter. While each of the four issues did high light a certain development, or two, in the animal welfare scene in and around SPCA for that quarter, the SPCA Bulletin has been characteristically featuring, in every issue, animal cruelty cases investigated by our inspectorate, animal rescues carried out by our rescue officers, animal fostering updates, successful adoption stories of our shelter animals that have found their respective loving, forever homes, as well as educational dog care and/or dog training pointers, for the relevant quarter. We have published a total of four quarterly issues of the SPCA Bulletin over the past financial year. The SPCA Bulletin is essentially a members’ only publication, a hard copy of which has been sent to all our Senior, Life, Corporate Annual and Corporate Life Members and our GIRO Donors. (From the next financial year onwards, only members who did not opt for the soft copy will be sent the printed version.) The four issues pertain to the quarterly periods July to September 2013, October to December 2013, January to March 2014, and April to June 2014. Where quarter-specific animal welfare developments are concerned, the issue for July to September 2013 covered our SPCA Gala Dinner 2013 as well as our World Animal 2013, whilst the October to December 2013 issue featured AVA’s implementation of the new pet shop licensing conditions taking effect from January 2014. The last issue to close the financial year, the April to June 2014 issue, provided coverage of the prosecution of Lim Soo Seng for severe pet neglect and also the Ministry of National Development’s formal sanctioning of Project ADORE. 31 SPCA Annual Report 2014 SPCA in the Media On 1 June 2014, SPCA ‘s Executive Director, Corinne Fong, was on air from 9 to 10am, on 93.8FM Live!, to share with listeners how Project ADORE would now allow HDB flat owners to adopt medium-sized, local mixed breed dogs which are up to 15 kg in weight and 50 cm in height. On 11 June 2014, from 8.45 to 9am, SPCA engaged in an “Animals in Captivity” dialogue, live, on Channel News Asia, with Corinne sharing with viewers why the Marine Life Park’s remaining 23 dolphins should not be held captive. In June 2014, four of SPCA’s cats were featured in the “Cat Friends” editorial fashion spread feature in the June 2014 edition of “Style” magazine. These cats were photographed by Wee Khim, Life Member and Volunteer 32 World Animal Day 2013 Featured in the Media In publicizing World Animal Day 2013, our Education Manager, Selina Sebastian, was featured as a guest on The Pet Project on 93.8FM Live!, talking about World Animal Day and its significance. On 2 October 2013, Yvonne Yong from Channel NewsAsia visited our shelter for an interview segment on AM Live!, Channel NewsAsia’s morning show. Selina shared with the crew SPCA’s role in furthering the animal welfare cause, also in line with World Animal Day. To drum up publicity for World Animal Day, there was also an auction of a 5kg Christmas Cake specially made for dogs, sponsored by The Barkery, and organized by students from SMUPAW (the Singapore Management University’s People for Animal Welfare), which raised $1,000. The highest bidder who bid $1,000 donated the cake to the dogs at SPCA’s shelter, putting in an additional $444.20 donation. This occasion was featured in The Straits Times on 11 December 2013. Education Department Featured in the Media In December 2013, our Education Officer was featured in Teenage Magazine, sharing with readers her love and passion for animals and her job responsibilities at SPCA. Our Education Manager was also interviewed for a feature in Family & Life, a family and lifestyle magazine targeted at parents with children aged SPCA Annual Report 2014 12 years and below, regarding suitable pet choices for children in different age groups and values that children grow up with once they are taught to care for animals from a very young age. SPCA Campaign Facebook page and website have been our main means of online reach, thus far. SPCA also operates a Twitter account. In June 2014, we started an Instagram account. With Instagram’s rise in popularity especially among the younger crowd, tapping this social media platform as well would better connect us with our younger target audience. In November 2013, we launched a campaign to raise awareness of the cruel practices of puppy mills in Singapore. We also set out to encourage adoption and not the commercial purchase of pet animals. To this end, we conceptualized and produced in-train panel advertisements that were displayed in the trains plying the North-South and East-West, as well as Circle, Lines’ routes, from 7 November to 15 December 2013. SPCA’s Use of Social Media Facebook remains SPCA’s central and most effective online and social media tool, in influencing public opinion through the media and enabling better community engagement. SPCA’s Facebook page has seen a healthy growth in numbers from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014, especially in terms of Page Likes (which have increased by about 9,500). SPCA’s 33 SPCA Annual Report 2014 (12) FUNDRAISING Our regular fundraising events brought in some good results this financial year, and we would like to thank all, including all volunteers and participants, who have supported these projects. On 28 September 2013, we held our Gala Dinner at Conrad Centennial Singapore. The highlights of the evening were the Raffle Ticket Draw and the “Silent” and “Live” auctions. The “Live” auction saw prizes like hotel stays both locally and overseas, as well as carpets, premium wines and jewellery going to the highest bidder. The night also saw performances from Jessica Soo and Vocaluptuous, as well as entertainment by Hibikiya Tenko Drums. The performers, sponsors, volunteers and staff, as well as the draws and auction segments, along with the Master-of-Ceremony Chris Liew, all contributed to the event’s success. A total of $60,511.69 was raised for the Building Fund to help us construct our new premises. 34 Our Annual Christmas Wish List campaign ran from the end of November 2013 for just over a month. A total of $17,372.20 was donated to the SPCA, to buy specific items, chosen by donors, from the prescribed list of possible purchase items. On 7 and 8 December 2013, South Korean artist Baek Seung-Joo held another ceramics workshop in aid of the SPCA, whereby thirty-five participants learned basic drawing techniques, designed their own Christmas cards, and designed and made three Christmas- SPCA Annual Report 2014 themed tree ornaments or fridge magnets. A total of $1,050 was raised, from this fundraising event jointly organised by Gallery Enough and Goodman Ceramic Studio. We raised a total of $9,775.76 through the Furry Friends Fund 2014 (from 1 March 2014 to 31 May 2014). For this project, our supporters took our donation tins into their homes and/or offices for collection of loose change, in the process also reaching out to their family and friends in eliciting funds. We held an “A Hoppity Easter Saturday with SPCA & Au Chocolat” celebration on 19 April 2014 at City Square Mall, a one-day event, which saw a total of $405.00 raised, including donation tin collections amounting to $219.15. Last but not least, the “Buy-A-Brick” initiative, which we launched in September 2013, is still on-going, and a fundraising project involving our collaboration with Groupon Singapore will be implemented in the next financial year. 35 SPCA Annual Report 2014 (13) VOLUNTEERING The SPCA currently has a total of 1,660 volunteers in our database who help out with shelter operations, dog-walking, adoption counselling and at sales events, among other involvements. Our volunteer strength has thus increased by 485 from a total strength of 1,165 volunteers recorded for the previous financial year. We have, from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014, conducted a total of 44 corporate visits at our shelter for organisations such as Starbucks, Credit Suisse, Bloomberg and NTUC Fairprice. This number is almost double the total for the previous financial year. Our corporate volunteers are now helping out at our shelter on a more regular basis, such as those from Starbucks (on every second Thursday of the month) and NTUC Fairprice (on every third Thursday of the month). Companies like Credit Suisse and Bloomberg have also volunteered on several occasions within the financial year. Others, like Google, are extending their help beyond the shelter in ways 36 such as providing online advertising grants (in the form of monthly online credits of US$10,000). Deutsche Bank AG Singapore, in particular, volunteered at the SPCA Gala Dinner on 28 September 2013. We have also put in place volunteer engagement activities such as charity movie screenings, yoga sessions and gatherings, to help our volunteers to get to know one another better. We also organised team-building activities by way of collaborative activities with the volunteers of other organisations, beyond the confines of SPCA’s shelter. For instance, on 28 June 2014, our group of 30 volunteers, and staff, participated in Movement 354, an initiative by the Waterways Watch Society. While the team engaged in cleaning up the Kallang River, they were also impressed upon with the importance of caring for the environment, on the one hand, and fulfilled to some extent their Corporate Social Responsibility towards other organisations similarly in need, on the other. SPCA Annual Report 2014 (14) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We extend our heartfelt and immense gratitude to every one who has contributed in any way to our shelter, fundraising, administration, education and promotions/ publicity. Without the commendable and tireless support of our volunteers, sub-committees and partners, we would not have been able to do the work that we do. We are also indebted to generous and kind members of the public who have come forward to adopt our animals and give them the loving, forever homes they have long awaited, as well as to the brave and committed members of the public who have helped us in our rescue operations in one way or another, by alerting us and often lending a helping hand, or two, to sick, injured, distressed and/or abused animals, each day. Listed below, in alphabetical order, are just some of those who have helped us in our work the past year. We apologise to anyone we may have inadvertently omitted. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 93.8 FM Acacia Veterinary Clinic Achieva Vending Pte Ltd ACRES Action for Singapore Dogs Addiction Foods Advance Waterproofing & Construction Pte Ltd Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (Centre for Animal Welfare & Control) Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority Outreach Team) Amber Veterinary Practice Pte Ltd Animal and Avian Veterinary Clinic Animal Lovers League Animal Merchandise Animal Practice Pte Ltd Aranda Country Club Aspect Natural Beaute Baek Seung-Joo BERGS BHP Billiton Marketing Asia Pte Ltd (Singapore) BIG O Café & Restaurant Books Actually • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Brainwaves Tutorial School Breeks Café Bubbly Petz Café Verde at the Botanics Canadian Association of Singapore Cat Welfare Society Cathay Organisation Holdings Ltd Catholic High School Causes for Animals Chan Mui Imm Helen Channel NewsAsia Chatsworth East International School Cheng Kim Loke Foundation Cheerful Dogs CHIJ St Joseph’s Convent Cho Ying May Jacqueline Philip Choi Choo Chiau Beng Citi-YMCA Youth For Causes Citibank Singapore Ltd Civil Service Club (Bukit Batok Clubhouse) • Civil Service Club (Tessensohn Clubhouse) • C.K. Tang Ltd 37 SPCA Annual Report 2014 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 38 Cold Storage Singapore Pte Ltd De Rozario Esther Jane Defu Veterinary Clinic Dejewel Galleria Deutsche Bank AG Singapore Doggiestyle Café Emerald Hill Group Estate of William Hunter Caldwell Estate of Chong Kuan Neo Estate of Loh Kim Chwee Blanche Estate of Mdm Tan Goh Tin Estate of Ms Chiattee Tan Eu Kong Weng Facebook Global Causes Day FirstMate (Pawmart) Foo Shu Ching Frankel Veterinary Clinic Friends in Fur Pte Ltd Gallery Enough Giant Hypermart Goodman Ceramic Studio Google Singapore Antonija Gros GRUB at Bishan Park 1 Guide Dogs Association of the Blind Ltd Hard Rock Café Hibikiya Tenko Drums Alex Hickman Kallista Ho Hon Lai Kyuen House Rabbit Society of Singapore Humane Society of Singapore ID Emboss Pte Ltd Christopher Inglin Island Creamery Island Veterinary Clinic Dollah Jaafar James Tan Veterinary Centre Jessica Soo Jireh Veterinary Clinic Pte Ltd JOJO Julia Gabriel Centre for Learning • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Kang, Nee (Dr.) KC & Watson (FE) Pte Ltd Keppel Corporation Ltd Kuok Oon Kwong LAWHUB LLC Lee Foundation Lemon Zest Chris Liew Light of Life Veterinary Clinic and Services Lim Siang Hoe Benny Lin Wah Engineering Works Pte Ltd Loke Mun-Tze Jacqueline Joelle Loke Yuen Kin Ruby Poul H Lorentzen Low Hui Ching Low Poh Choo Lou Ek Hee M1 Limited, Singapore Marche Restaurants International Mellford Pte Ltd Ministry of Education Ministry of Social and Family Development (Probation Services Branch) Mount Pleasant Animal Clinic (East) Mount Pleasant Animal Clinic (North) Mount Pleasant Animal Medical Centre (Bedok) Mount Pleasant Animal Medical Centre (Redhill) Mount Pleasant Animal Medical Centre (West) Nam Sang Veterinary Clinic Nand Singh Gandhi National Parks Board Naturally Plus Direct Marketing Pte Ltd Noah’s Ark Cares Nowhere Café LLP NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Ltd SPCA Annual Report 2014 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • OMD Singapore Ooi Chee Kar Oridien Astrology & Consultancy Our Pet Shop Parkway Parade Pavilion Foundation Limited Paw Veterinary Centre Pet Care Centre & Clinic Pets Magazine PHD Singapore Point Veterinary Surgery Project PAAWS Property Investment Partners Pte Ltd (Executive Directions) Purina Raffles Town Club SalesForce.com Foundation Search Network Pte Ltd See Lian Tin Shaw Organisation Pte Ltd Singapore Kennel Club Siow Yu-Gin SMU PAW - Singapore Management University People for Animal Welfare Singapore Police Force Singapore Press Holdings Ltd Smiths Fish & Chips (Bp) Pte Ltd SMRT Corporation Ltd SPCA Bulletin advertisers SPCA kennel, cattery and nursery sponsors SPCA staff and consultant veterinarians Starbucks Singapore Robert Derrick Strain Style: Singapore Magazine Tan Chin Tuan Foundation Tan May Kathleen Tang Sow Keng Taylor Stanley (Singapore) Pte Ltd Temasek Polytechnic Teo Eng Kim • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Teo Nan Zun The Animal Clinic (Singapore) The Animal Doctors The Barkery The Better Toy Store The Factory ETC Pte Ltd The Joyous Vet The Straits Times Classifieds The Wine Company Pte Ltd Tian Kong & Kancanara Buddhist Temple TOBY’s The Dessert Asylum Toggle (MediaCorp) Town Councils TP Animal Clinic True Blue Cuisine United Square Shopping Mall Susan Varghese Vets for Pets Vocaluptuous Jason Wang Wee Khim West Coast Vetcare Pte Ltd Wild Singapore Edwin Wong Wong Pui Ying Woodwould.. Yap Mei Lai Special thanks are also due to our dedicated Management Committee for their invaluable contributions and guidance and hard work in steering the organisation through another fruitful and eventful year, and through the various Sub-Committees, listed in alphabetical order: - Administration & Finance Building Cruelty / Shelter Fundraising Publicity Volunteer 39 Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Singapore 31 Mount Vernon Road, Singapore 368054 Tel: (+65) 6287 5355 | Fax: (+65) 6286 5997 | Website: www.spca.org.sg | Facebook: www.facebook.com/SPCASingapore